New F-16s Helps Pak, US Relations Grow

[unhappycamper]

New F-16s Helps Pak, US Relations Grow
June 25, 2010
American Forces Press Service|by Lisa Daniel and Donna Miles

Three F-16 Fighting Falcons are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan with 15 more to be delivered later this year and next, said Maj. Todd Robbins, the Pakistan country director in the office of the undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs.

"This is the most visible part of a strong and growing relationship between the two air forces that will benefit us both near-term and long-term," he said.

This sale of F-16s to Pakistan renews new aircraft sales that existed between the United States and Pakistan in the 1980s, but were halted in the 1990s. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other U.S. military and civilian leaders have spoken out about "not repeating the mistakes" of the U.S. halt in relations with Pakistan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In March, the U.S. and Pakistan officials held their first ministerial-level strategic dialogue here, co-chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. High-level officials from both governments participated in the dialogue, including Secretary Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gates said then that the talks included discussion of "how we can help Pakistan in dealing with the security challenges that face them, but also face us and NATO as well."

[glowing]

1. What could go wrong?

[G_j]

2. I wonder what India

thinks about this.