US to provide 'ScanEagle' UAV's to Pak to boost anti-terror capabilities

Islamabad, Feb.17 (ANI): The United States would be providing Pakistan the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ScanEagle, to help the trouble nation develop its capability against the extremists.

The announcement comes days after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates statement that Washington would be providing the UAV Shadow to Pakistan, which had drawn huge criticism from local media, which described the technology as 'obsolete.'

US Under Secretary of Defence Michele Flournoy, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, told media persons that Washington wants to build a strategic partnership with Pakistan and discussed ways to develop new relations.

She said the US is offering support to Pakistan in various sectors to help it overcome its problems and is working to overcome the prevalent massive anti-US sentiment in the country.

"Our action will speak louder than words and by helping Pakistan and its people, we will be able to overcome the anti-American sentiments here. But it will take some time," The Daily Times quoted Flournoy, as saying.

She added that the US is providing F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and had also set up the Counterinsurgency Capacity Building Fund worth a billion dollar for the country.

Flourney also underlined that Washington has already provided over seven billion dollars from the Coalition Support Fund to Islamabad since the 'war on terror' began in 2001. (ANI)