Pak placed orders worth 4.5 bn for arms purchase from US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan placed its largest ever arms purchase orders worth USD 4.5 billion with America between 2005 and 2008 and its weapons shopping list included more F-16 fighters and over hundred 155 MM artillery guns, a latest Congressional report has said.

The orders included thirty-six latest block 50/52 F-16C jets and their air-to-air missiles and bombs worth a whopping USD 640 million. The arms deal also provided for mid-life modification of its earlier F-16 A/B fighters.

Under the arms deal, Islamabad also sought 115 M109A5 155 MM self propelled howitzers worth USD 52 million, the guns it did not have during the Kargil conflict in 1999.

According to 'US Arms Sales to Pakistan' report, the major arms purchase agreement by Pakistan signed in 2006, was in excess of USD 3.5 billion, ranking Pakistan first among all arms clients of the US during that calendar year.

The report informs the US lawmakers that America can suspend or terminate any arms sales agreement with Pakistan or the delivery of weapons previously ordered, if the President determines that the action taken by Islamabad are against the national security interests of the United States.

"The Congress can also pass legislation that would suspend, modify, or terminate any arms sale contract should it choose to do so,"said the report prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a bipartisan and independent research wing of the US Congress, which prepares reports on various issues for Congressmen.