Pakistan said close to F-16 fighter purchase

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) Pakistan appears close to signing a potential 5 billion dollar deal for an advanced F-16 fighter-jet package, despite stepped-up security demands pushed by U S lawmakers, the official responsible for the sale said today.

Air Force Lt Gen Jeffrey Kohler, head of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, said he expected a government-to-government pact locking in the purchase to be wrapped up as early as this month or the middle of next month.

The agreement would clear the way for the U S Air Force to complete a so-called foreign military sales contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., which builds the F-16, as soon as November, he said in reply to queries from Reuters.

Supplying updated F-16s to Pakistan is a key part of President Bush's South Asia strategy, unveiled in March 2005 and aimed at boosting and balancing post-September 11 security ties with India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The sale would bolster President Pervez Musharraf in backing the U S-declared global war on terror and expand U S access, influence and leverage, U S officials have said.

But Washington has demanded what it calls unprecedented steps to safeguard the advanced F-16C/D models, their spare parts and munitions from third parties -- especially China, which has closed military ties to Pakistan.

Despite these stiff precautions, Pakistan would get a fighter said by Washington to be stripped of a cutting-edge offensive capability, supposedly incapable of delivering nuclear weapons and subject to U S government say on when it could be flown overseas.

On June 28, the Bush administration formally notified Congress of plans to sell Pakistan up to 36 Block 50/52 Falcon fighters, the most advanced F-16 flown by U S forces. Related sales involved upgrades for Pakistan's older-model F-16s and munitions, including up to 500 AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, in a package with a combined value of up to 5 billion dollar if all options are exercised.

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