Pakistan receives first of six C-130s

WASHINGTON, Oct 31: First of the six C-130 military cargo planes that Pakistan is buying from the US left for Islamabad on Monday with relief goods for earthquake survivors, officials said.

“This is the first of the six but we do not have a schedule for other deliveries,” Pakistan’s defence attaché in Washington Brig Khawar Hanif told Dawn. “Right now, our top priority is the earthquake and the PAF is heavily involved in relief operations.”

Pakistan may also delay a deal to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States because of the devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people.

In August 2003, the US had agreed to sell six C-130 military cargo planes to Pakistan as part of defence assistance committed under the $3 billion aid granted by US President George W. Bush during his Camp David meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf earlier that year.

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