, Pakistan and United States have signed a letter of acceptance for a multi-billion dollar package to supply the Pakistan Air Force with F-16 warplanes, an air force spokesman said on Oct. 2.
A signing ceremony was held on Sept. 30 in Rawalpindi, the northern Pakistani city were the military is headquartered, he said.
Both sides had expected to wrap up the deal a month earlier, but negotiations dragged on because of strings Washington wanted attached.
A statement issued by the Pakistan Air Force, however, did not mention what conditions were being set by the United States on use and maintenance of the planes.
It said that the United States will supply 18 new F-16 aircraft, as well as an unspecified number of upgraded second-hand F-16s. Previous reports have said the number of second hand aircraft Pakistan was considering buying was 26.
The United States will also sell Pakistan missile weaponry and other support infrastructure, and upgrade Pakistan
