F-16s won’t figure in Bush-Gen talks: US

US officials today said President George W. Bush does not intend to discuss the release of advanced F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan during the...

US officials today said President George W. Bush does not intend to discuss the release of advanced F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan during the upcoming visit of his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf. They also denied reports that during Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s recent US visit, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld informed him about the ‘‘proposed’’ release of F-16s to Pakistan.

Media reports have said US planned to release advanced versions of F-16 fighter jets that were sold to Pakistan in late 1980s but were never delivered because of Islamabad’s nuclear arms programme.

Benazir’s party flays Musharraf’s N-threats

ISLAMABAD: Former premier Benazir Bhutto’s party has flayed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for ‘‘brandishing’’ nuclear weapons as a ‘‘last hope’’ and accused him of thus scaring the investors away, during his current visit to Britain. ‘‘Flaunting of nuclear weapons yet once again by General Musharraf during his visit to London is most unfortunate and is condemned in the strongest terms,’’ Pakistan Peoples Party senator Anver Baig said in a statement here. (PTI)

Officials said they did not expect Bush to be talking to Musharraf about any sale of F-16s during his visit. On a press report about Rumsfeld having briefed Advani on the issue, the officials said, ‘‘no US official provided any such information to Deputy Prime Minister Advani.’’

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It is learnt that this ‘‘guidance’’ has been sent by the State Department to embassies in both Islamabad and New Delhi.

The Pentagon press office referred all queries on the issue to the State Department, which was in keeping with Rumsfeld’s public comment at a press conference that he does not deal with such issues and that these are matters for the President and the State Department. The United States blocked the delivery to Pakistan of 28 F-16s after deciding it could no longer certify that Pakistan had no nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Boston yesterday, where his son and relatives are staying. He is in US for a visit that includes crucial talks with United States President George W Bush and his Cabinet members.

He will stay in Boston till the 23rd and will come to Washington DC from Camp David.

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In Camp David on 24th, he will have talks with Bush and Cabinet members. His schedule in Washington includes a meeting and lunch with Vice-President Dick Cheney. He will also call on Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Treasury Secretary. He will also be meeting World Bank President James Wolfensohn. Other engagements include a talk at the congressionally funded US Institute of Peace and opening of the new Pakisan Embassy building. He will leave for Germany on June 29.