US to give Pak 14 F-16 jets: PAF chief

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has claimed that the US has agreed to provide 14 F-16 combat jets to Islamabad.

Talking to media persons during a press conference here, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said Pakistan would be getting more than a dozen F-16 jets, which would enhance the PAF’s capability to a great extent.

He said the PAF is capable of thwarting both ‘conventional’ and ‘unconventional’ threats from the enemy.

“The Pakistan Air Force is focusing on its preparedness and is taking stock of it preparations according to the modern trends,” The News quoted Air Chief Marshal Suleman, as saying.

In 1990, the U.S. halted the production of a third and fourth batch of F-16s ordered by Pakistan, due to its’’s nuclear weapons program. 40 F-16A/B aircraft had been delivered under the Peace Gate I and II programs, however none of the Peace Gate III and IV aircraft were delivered.

However, in 2005 Islamabad finally received the go-ahead to order 24 additional F-16s, which was believed to an explicit reward for General Pervez Musharraf’’s support in the ‘war on terror.’