Washington, June 24
The President of the USA, Mr George W. Bush, today ruled out any immediate sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, making it clear that it will not be part of a $ 3 billion package announced for Islamabad.
“In the package that we discussed, the five-year $ 3 billion package, half of that money goes for defence matters of which the F-16 won’t be a part,” Mr Bush said at a joint press conference at Camp David after he met the Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Bush’s response came when a reporter referred to media reports quoting the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, saying after his recent visit to the US that Washington had given an assurance that it would not sell F-16s to Pakistan. The questioner asked whether the Pakistani people should believe Mr Advani. Gen Musharraf interjected telling Mr Bush that he could not escape questions on this issue.
Mr Bush said he would work with the US Congress on the economic aid package for Pakistan and sign a ‘trade and investment framework’ agreement with Islamabad.
After 90 minutes of talks at the Presidential retreat in Maryland, Mr Bush declared that he would be ready to help resolve the India-Pakistan tension, but a final agreement would require the leadership from both governments. “We will do all we can to promote peace,” Mr Bush said. Gen Musharraf, speaking after Mr Bush, said: “There is no cause that can be justified or promoted through terrorist acts.” —
PTI
