US State Dept approves proposed $125m support programme for Pakistan’s F-16s

The announcement came after Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Washington for Washington, which also included a three-hour visit to the White House. During an unprecedented 47-minute joint press conference with the prime minister on July 21, US President Donald Trump also offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to help them resolve the 70-year conflict in Kashmir.

"The State Department has decided to approve the sale of a foreign military (FMS) in Pakistan to the Technical Security Team (TST) for the ongoing support of the F-16 program at an estimated cost of $ 125 million," an official announcement was released on Friday afternoon. The Government of Pakistan has requested the continuation of technical support services, including technical and logistical support services to the Government of the United States. UU. The application also includes other logistics-related components to help oversee operations to support Pakistan's advanced P-16 program. The total estimated cost of the program is $ 125 million.

"The proposed sale of this support will not change the basic military balance in the region," the statement said, in an effort to lessen the irritation of potential Indians.

The main contractor for this support program is Boaz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services LLC, Fairborn, Ohio.

The implementation of this proposed sale will require the appointment of 60 contractor representatives in Pakistan to assist in overseeing operations as part of the Peace Drive F-16 program.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress that "there will be no negative impact on the preparation of the US defense as a result of this proposed sale."

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean that the sale has been made.

However, almost all of these requests were approved after a possible debate. If Congress rejects the request, the administration can still use the exemption to provide the required services.

Trump stopped all FMS support programs for Pakistan after accusing Islamabad of not helping Washington achieve its goals in Afghanistan. But during the prime minister's visit to Washington from July 20 to 23, both sides announced they were on the same page in Afghanistan.

The prime minister said he would soon invite Taliban leaders to Islamabad to persuade them to hold direct talks with the Taliban. President Trump thanked Pakistan for its support, which allowed for direct talks between US and Taliban delegations in Doha, Qatar.

Since the prime minister's return, the Taliban have expressed their willingness to visit Islamabad to meet Mr. Khan, while President Trump has sent his chief of staff and a senior diplomat to Kabul to inform the Afghan government.