In a fresh sign of thaw in Pakistan-United States strained relations, the US on Monday delivered three F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, which included a new fighter plane and two that were returned after being refurbished.
“One F-16 D Block 52 and two F-16 Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) aircraft arrived from USA at PAF Shahbaz Base. The arrival of last F-16 D Block 52 aircraft marked the completion of delivery of 18 aircraft of this category,” said a PAF spokesman in a statement.
“The other two F-16 Block 15 aircraft, which arrived on Monday, were earlier sent to USA for Mid Life Upgrade and have been delivered to PAF on time,” it said.
To commemorate the ceremony, a simple ceremony was held at PAF Shahbaz Base, which was attended by a large number of PAF officials.
“The F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft is a high-tech fighter aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics suite and latest weapons with Night Precision Attack capability,” the PAF spokesman said.
A security official, who requested anonymity, said that US had also been working with the PAF to modernise 45 F-16s from its existing fighter fleet through the US foreign military financing security assistance programme.
He said although there had been serious tension between the two sides in the wake of NATO airstrikes on Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency on November 26 last year, the two sides had been able to keep the F-16s’ delivery to Pakistan on the track.
Asked whether the US delivered the fighter planes to Pakistan despite the standoff between the two states as a part of confidence building measures (CBMs), he said it could be the reason, but he would not comment more on that.
A diplomatic source said the delivery of three F-16s to Islamabad on Monday reflected the clear signs of thaw in relations.
He said the two sides had covered major ground in their behind-the-scene talks through military and diplomatic channels and both of them were now on the verge of settlement of contentious issues like the blocking of NATO supplies, drone strikes and presence of US military trainers in Pakistan.
good News but we need more block 52 F 16s
Delivery of the F-16’s in not an olive branch. Pakistan bought and PAID for the F-16’s.
An olive branch would be the USA forcing the NSG to recognize Pakistan as a Nuclear Weapon State.
An olive branch would be releasing all Pakistanis in US custody, including Gitmo detainees and Dr. Siddiqui.
An olive branch would be sanctioning India for illegally invading & occupying Kashmir.
America is not to be trusted EVER. America just elected another Jewish Senator, Suzanne Bonamici.
Easy dude, it's an Olive branch, not an Olive jungle. Let's keep things slow! 😉
If you call it an olive branch, then you must immeidately be visiting the local phychiatrist for your mental evaluation. Let it be known that these planes have been paid for well in advance & US is deliberatly holding the delivery of these otherwise useless planes, which are good enough for ceremonial occasions.
With The Kill Button in place, these planes are good enough to kill our own people. Realistically speaking, these planes will never be able to take off in case of an actual war scenario!
It is important that both countries should revitalize their ties and work together to root out terrorism and stop the attacks and bombings by terrorists, in which improvised explosives have been used, resulting in loss of innocent lives.
Comments are closed.