Monday, May 8 2006 16:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: The United States has agreed to provide Pakistan's military with latest conventional weapons systems besides the already promised F-16s to fight terrorism.

The commitment to provide the weapons was made by the US after examining the list of defence requirements provided by Pakistan at the just concluded US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting in Washington, Pakistan's Defence Secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi said.

"The US has agreed to sell conventional weapons and latest weapon system to Pakistan so that the fight against terrorism can effectively move forward," he was quoted as saying by Pakistan TV ARY One.

The meeting also decided that American and Pakistan forces would hold joint military exercises in 2007, he said.

The United States has already agreed to provide F-16s to Pakistan. Recent reports said Pakistan has scaled down its plans to buy 77 F-16s following last year's earthquake and sought about 25 used and second hand planes during the recently concluded US-Pakistan strategic dialogue.

DCG was revived in 2003 to periodically discuss Pakistan's defence requirements.

Ghazi said during the meeting, he conveyed Pakistan's stand that US-India nuclear deal would 'disturb' the existing military balance between India and Pakistan.

"We believe that everybody will suffer if this balance is disturbed," he was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying.

He said Pakistan had 'some reservations' about the Indo-US nuclear deal and these reservations were raised during the five-day talks of the DCG.