Washington: US President George W Bush on June 24 ruled out any immediate sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, making it clear that it will not be a part of a $ three billion package announced for Islamabad.

"In the package that we discussed, the five-year $ three billion package, half of that money goes for defence matters of which the F-16 won't be a part," Bush said at a joint press conference at Camp David after he met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Bush's response came when a reporter referred to media reports quoting Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani saying after his recent visit to the US that Washington had given an assurance that it would not sell F-16s to Pakistan.

The questioner asked whether the Pakistani people should believe Advani.

Musharraf interjected, telling the President that he could not escape questions on this issue.

Bush responded, saying Musharraf had been a "strong advocate" for the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, but made it clear that it won't be part of the package.

Pakistan had paid for 28 F-16 jets, which has been stalled in the wake of the 1998 anti-nuclear sanctions against Islamabad.

PTI