Tuesday, February 1 2005 10:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan is expected to press Washington for supply of F-16 fighter jets in the Pak-US Defence Consultative Group's meeting beginning in Islamabad on February 3.

"All issues including Pakistan's request for supply of F-16 jets will be discussed during the Pak-US DCG meeting," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters in Islamabad yesterday (Jan 31, 2005).

"We will discuss our legitimate requirements and Pakistan's request for F-16 was on the table for some time and it deserves the attention from Washington," Khan said.

The DCG meeting to be held between Douglas Feith, US Under Secretary of Policy and Pakistan's Defence Secretary, retired Gen Hamid Nawaz Khan will review bilateral military cooperation, discuss American security assistance to Pakistan, counter terrorism and long term Pak-US strategic relations, he said.

An earlier meeting of the DCG has finalised the $ 1.3 billion assistance under which Pakistan would be provided a host of weapons including eight Orion six Phalanx surveillance aircraft and anti-tank and anti-ship missiles. US however was silent on Pakistan's persistent demand to permit to acquire F-16, which was objected by India.

Khan said that the two sides would have general exchange of views on situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East at the DCG meeting.