Washington on Friday approved $125 million worth of support for Pakistan's F-16 warplanes, and also $670 worth of support for India's C-17 transport planes. Approval to support US-built aircraft for the two south Asian rivals were approved by the US State Department, and announced simultaneously by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The approval for technical and logistics support for Pakistan's F-16s comes just days after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The potential sale will support US foreign policy and national security "by protecting US technology through the continued presence of US personnel that provide 24/7 end-use monitoring," the statement announcing the Pakistan approval read.
Separately, the DSCA said that India asked to buy spare parts and test equipment for their Boeing C-17 transport planes, and is seeking personnel training, among other things, "for an estimated cost of $670 million." "India needs this follow-on support to maintain its operational readiness and ability to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) assistance in the region. "India will have no difficulty absorbing this support into its armed forces," the statement announcing the approval read. Both statements added that the proposed sales of equipment and support "will not alter the basic military balance in the region."
BR staff reporter adds: The United States has decided to approve $125 million as technical support for Pakistan's F-16 programme, days after Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to Washington.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for Technical Security Team (TST) in continued support of the F-16 programme for an estimated cost of $125 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 26, 2019," Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Friday.
It further stated that the government of Pakistan requested for continuation of technical support services; US government and contractor technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics support to assist in the oversight of operations in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 programme. The total estimated programme cost is $125 million.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by protecting the US technology through the continued presence of the US personnel that provide 24/7 end-use monitoring," it added.
The DSCA also made it clear that the proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region, adding that the principal contractor is Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services LLC, Fairborn, Ohio.
"Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 60 contractor representatives to Pakistan to assist in the oversight of operations as part of the Peace Drive F-16 programme," it stated, adding that there will be no adverse impact on the US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
The DSCA also made it clear that "this notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded."
The move comes days after Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Washington where he held talks with US President Donald Trump on issues of mutual interests, cooperation in various fields including the defence, regional issues and Afghanistan peace process.
Foreign Office on Thursday described the trip as a 'productive and successful' visit, insisting that the ties between Pakistan and United States have been 'reset' following the constructive dialogue of Prime Minister Khan with President Trump.