US Approves Sale of F-16 Programme Support to Pakistan in Wake of Trump-Khan Talks

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US State Department has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jet programme technical support to Pakistan, the Defenсe Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.
Sputnik

The approval comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the White House this week where President Donald Trump said the United States would consider lifting a security aid freeze on Pakistan if Islamabad took more action on terrorists and helped in advancing the Afghan peace process.

"The State Department has made a determination approving 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 DSCA said in a statement on Friday.

Last November, a Pentagon official said Washington had suspended a total of $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan after US President Donald Trump criticised Islamabad’s alleged lack of effort in fighting terrorism.

At the time, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the US charge d'affaires to express the country’s strong protest over Trump’s allegations.

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