Monday, March 14 2005 20:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (March 14, 2005) sought to play down speculation that US Secretary Condoleezza Rice may offer to supply F-16 fighter planes when she visits Pakistan later this week, saying that it would not "prejudge" what she planned to say.

"Pakistan is not a position to prejudge what she planned to say," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani told reporters in Islamabad today.

He was reacting to reports in the Pakistani media that in order to overcome Indian objections to permit the sale of the fighter jets to Pakistan, Rice may make the offer to both countries. Pakistan's Ambassador to US, Janagir Karamat has been quoted by the local daily Dawn as saying that Islamabad would not object the US sale of F-16s to India.

Rice would be arriving here from India on March 16 for a three-day visit. She would briefly visit Kabul on March 17 and return to Islamabad on the same day and leave for home the next day.

Jilani said during her stay in Islamabad, Rice will hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri.

Refusing to speculate on the F-16s, Jilani said US was well aware of Pakistan's "legitimate" defence needs.

He said Rice visit to the region was more of a familiarisation tour, adding there was a tremendous improvement of relations between both the countries.

A host of issues including the regional, international issues especially Iraq and Afghanistan would figure in her talks with Pakistan leaders.