The United States has resumed military support for Pakistan by approving sales of F-16 warplanes worth $125 million.
The sale will ensure a 24/7 end-use monitoring of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets by 60 US contractor representatives and technical staff.
The approval from the US State Department has come days after Prime Minister Imran Khan concluded a successful visit to Washington.
On Friday, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a statement saying:
The State Department has decided to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for Technical Security Team (TST) in continued support of the F-16 program for an estimated cost of $125 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 26, 2019.
It added that the step was taken on the request of the Pakistani government during the recent visit.
The services on offer include, “the continuous presence of US personnel for technical and logistics support services, and other of logistics support to assist in the oversight of operations in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 program.”
The total cost of the program is estimated to be $125 million.
In another development, the US government, on the request of PM Khan, has also agreed to revisit its travel advisory for Pakistan.
The lenient advisory will not only improve Pakistan’s tourism industry but will also strengthen the Green Passport.
