Pentagon denies deal to deliver F-16s to Pakistan

WASHINGTON (AFP) Jun 19, 2003
The Pentagon denied Thursday reports that the United States plans to release to Pakistan advanced versions of F-16 fighter jets that were sold in late 1980s but never delivered because of Islamabad's nuclear arms program.

"It is a completely false story," said Commander Randy Sandoz, a Pentagon spokesman.

Accounts that the United States planned to release the fighters were circulated widely in Pakistan, whose President Pervez Musharraf is due to visit Washington next week.

The United States blocked the delivery to Pakistan of 28 F-16s after deciding it could no longer certify that Pakistan had no nuclear program.

Pakistan went public as a nuclear power in May 1998 when it test-detonated several nuclear devices in response to India's tests the same month.

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