-Terms the development an important step in military relationship with Pakistan
-Appreciates Islamabad, Washington’s partnership on counter-terrorism
From Sandra Johnson
WASHINGTON: The US State Department has approved the potential sale of F-16 aircraft sustainment and related equipment to Pakistan in a deal valued at up to $450 million, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), the Pentagon said.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the government of Pakistan of F-16 Case for Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $450 million,” the agency said in its statement issued on Wednesday. According to the agency, Pakistan has requested the US to consolidate prior F-16 sustainment and support cases to support the country’s F-16 fleet. However, under the proposed deal, the US will not provide any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with the US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations,” the agency said, adding it will improve Pakistan’s ability to support counterterrorism operations through its robust air-to-ground capability. The agency clarified that its proposed deal will also not alter the basic military balance in the region. Meanwhile, on the State Department’s decision regarding sustainment of F-16 military aircraft, Counsellor of the US State Department Derek Chollet termed it “an important step in the military relationship with Pakistan.”
Counsellor Chollet, who led a US interagency delegation to Pakistan, earlier in the day met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Derek Chollet said that the US wanted to strengthen its defence relationship with Pakistan and also had a good partnership on counter-terrorism.
He said the Pak-US relationship was “broader and richer” encompassing trade, civil society and people-to-people relationships, flood relief, and reconstruction, and the largest Fulbright scholarship for students besides the bilateral and security ties.
On energy cooperation, he said that the US is helping Pakistan with the production of clean and green energy considering it a valuable future commodity for the globe.
He mentioned that as the US also suffered the brunt of climate change like wildfires, super storms, and drought, therefore it was committed to helping the countries like Pakistan to prevent such flood-like incidents happen again.
In commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations with Pakistan, Counsellor Chollet said his meetings with the Pakistani leadership and senior officials discussed a wide range of issues including improving trade and investment ties, defence ties, cooperation to mitigate the climate crisis, and expanding people-to-people connections.
