Pakistan confirms shipment of US F-16 fighters in near future

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Sunday confirmed that it will be receiving two F-16 jet fighters from the United States in near future.

The sale had been blocked for 15 years due to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.

These fighters are of the same category as the ones which PAF has already possessed and are being provided to Pakistan from their ready available stock, said a PAF press release issued here.

The expenditure involved in procurement of these fighters is very nominal, the press release said, adding the number and delivery timing of the fighters will be decided at later stage.

Reports suggest that the US government has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two F-16s and that a Pakistani team is expected to proceed to Washington in late September or early October to fly the planes home.

The US government announced plans in March to sell F-16s to Pakistan but offered few details about the number of and specifications of the fighters.

Source: Xinhua