US gives eight Cobra helicopters to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (Reuters) The United States handed over eight Cobra attack helicopters today to Pakistan, which is under growing pressure to stop Taliban guerrillas crossing into Afghanistan to fight NATO forces.

Pakistani army helicopters, including Cobras, struck a suspected Taliban and al Qaeda hideout in the South Waziristan tribal region last month, killing up to 20 militants, according to intelligence sources.

Around 80 men and boys were killed in October by a similar strike on a militant-linked madrasa, or Islamic school, in another tribal agency on the border.

The eight AH1-F Cobras, equipped for night flying, are part of a 50-million dollar foreign military sales programme that will provide 20 refurbished helicopters to the Pakistani army.

''These helicopters are important weapons in our common fight against terrorism,'' US Ambassador Ryan C Crocker said at the handing-over ceremony in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

Pakistan had already acquired 19 Cobras from the United States, a US embassy statement said.

Crocker said the Cobras and the sale of F-16 warplanes to Islamabad agreed late last year ''demonstrated the long-term commitment of the United States to all aspects of our strategic partnership with Pakistan''.

In June 2004, the United States declared Pakistan to be a major non-NATO ally, making it easier to supply arms.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have once again come under scrutiny, because of comments by US and Afghan officials that the Taliban has bases in Pakistan.

A US bill which was passed in the House of Representatives and is due to go to the Senate has proposed linking military aid to Pakistan to its efforts to tackle Taliban.

The US embassy said this week the Bush administration was opposed to provisions in the bill on linking military aid.

Pakistan concedes there are Taliban fighters on its soil, but insists the insurgency is based in Afghanistan.

Reuters AB DB1852