US denies halt of F-16 programme

Statement released by US embassy denies media reports, says delivery of aircrafts to begin late January.

ISLAMABAD: The United States on Thursday denied media reports about the halt of the F-16 aircraft programme with Pakistan.     

“These reports are not accurate. Neither Pakistan nor the United States has cancelled the F-16 programme,” a US embassy statement said.

It added that the planned delivery of the last ‘new-buy’ F-16s purchased by Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in late January.

“Several other F-16s purchased by Pakistan from the United States are undergoing mid-life upgrades and will arrive in Pakistan beginning in late January.”

The statement mentioned that the deliveries will continue throughout this year and the next.