US arms for Pak to counter terror ideal for conventional war

Induction ceremony of AN/TPS-77 radar in Pakistan Air ForceMajor US arms sales and grants to Pakistan since 2001 have included a number of "big ticket" platforms more suited to conventional warfare though the Bush administration has been justifying such transcations in the name of fighting terrorism, a Congressional Research Service Report has revealed.

The latest CRS report shows that in dollar value terms, the bulk of purchases are made with Pakistani national funds.

The Pentagon has reported total Foreign Military Sales agreements with Pakistan worth USD 4.55 billion for 2002-07 of which in-process sales of F-16 combat aircraft and related equipment account for about three-quarters.

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