Days after the meeting between President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pentagon notified the Congress on Friday of its decision to approve military sales worth $125 million that would result in 24×7 end-use monitoring of the F-16 fighter jets of Pakistan. US officials asserted that the freeze in security assistance to Pakistan on Trump’s direction since January 2018 was still in place and the latest decision would help it in 24×7 end-use monitoring of the F-16 fighter jets in that country, as this would require the assignment of 60 contractor representatives there to assist in the oversight of the F-16 program. He referred to the notification sent in this regard by the Pentagon to the Congress on Friday.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by protecting American technology through the continued presence of US personnel that provide 24×7 end-use monitoring,” he said. “The State Department has decided to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for Technical Security Team (TST) in continued support of the F-16 program for an estimated cost of USD 125 million,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. The Pentagon delivered the required certification notifying the Congress of this possible sale on Friday.
According to the statement, Pakistan had requested a continuation of technical support services — US government and contractor technical and logistics support services — and other related elements of logistics support to assist in the oversight of operations in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 program. Pakistan has used the F-16 fighter jets against India, the latest being in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike inside Pakistan by India. In its notification, the Pentagon asserted that the proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
