United States To Send Pakistan Laser-Guided Bomb Kits And F-16s

The United States will deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month and is considering additional arms sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghan border region.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told reporters that the arms sales came in response to a request made by the air chief of the Pakistani air force in December. There continues to be a dialogue back and forth, Donley said, noting that the US government had already agreed to sell Pakistan munitions and night vision goggles, and was also stepping up training. Pakistan is also expected to receive new F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp this spring or summer, Donley said, noting that the fighter jets would give Pakistan’s air force greatly expanded capabilities in its fight against “radical elements” in the border region. Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffry Glenn said the United States delivered 1,000 MK-82 500-pound bombs to Pakistan last month, and was considering additional requests for those bombs and more laser-guided tail kits. The expected delivery later this year of 18 F-16s to Pakistan will bring its inventory of the planes to 54. Pakistan has been operating F-16s since 1982. Donley said Pakistan was also upgrading the capabilities of its older F-16 fighter jets.