ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 9 (UPI) -- The United States has agreed to provide Pakistan with the latest in conventional weapons systems, as well as F-16s, to fight against terror.
The Indian Express newspaper said Tuesday the United States has agreed to provide Pakistan's military with latest conventional weapons system, in addition to the promised F-16s, to fight terrorism.
The Pakistani military said the commitment to provide the weapons was made by the United States after the list of defense requirements provided to the United States by Pakistan at the recently concluded U.S.-Pakistan defense consultative group meeting was examined.
"The United States has agreed to sell conventional weapons and latest weapon system to Pakistan so that the fight against terrorism can effectively move forward," said Tariq Waseem Ghazi, Pakistani defense secretary, adding that it had also been decided at the meeting to hold joint U.S.-Pakistan military exercises in 2007.
Following the October 2005 earthquake that killed 70,000 and made millions homeless, Ghazi said, Pakistan scaled down its plans to buy 77 F-16s and instead sought about 25 used and second-hand planes.
The United States said recently that Pakistan had not been doing enough to deal with terrorism, complaining that al-Qaida and Taliban militants had found shelter in the tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, and that Islamabad knew it was being used as a sage haven.
Islamabad denied the charge, saying it had no information regarding al-Qaida and Taliban militants taking shelter on its soil. Had it been the case, Pakistani officials said, they would have taken action against them.
