Saturday, March 26 2005 15:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Hailing the US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets as a "red letter day" for its Air Force, Pakistan today (Mar 26, 2005) said that it does not nurture any aggressive designs against any country.

"Pakistan does not foster any aggressive designs against any country, but will continue to maintain minimum level of deterrence, needed to defend our homeland," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said referring to India's concerns on the sale of F-16s to Islamabad.

"We have no aggressive designs but will protect country's integrity at all costs," he said addressing Armed Forces personnel at Risalpur. "Pakistan believes in peace and wishes to live in harmony with its neighbours."

Terming the move a "red letter day" for its Air Force, Aziz said the US decision was "good" and "very important" as a strong and professional Air Force was vital in determining the outcome of a conflict.

He said that the Pakistan Government believed that its armed forces should have credible equipment.

As soon as the announcement was made in Washington last night (Mar 25, 2005), Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed appeared on the most of the TV channels to welcome it.

"Pakistan needs hi-tech fighter aircraft to meet its much awaited Defence requirements in the conventional arms sector," he said.