No F-16s for Pakistan, clarifies US

The United States has no plans of releasing F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan that were sold in the late 1980s, the Pentagon clarified on Thursday night.

Several media reports said the United States has agreed to release the fighter aircraft, adding the formal announcement would be made during the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf beginning June 24.

"It

is a completely false story," an agency quoted Pentagon spokesman Commander Randy Sandoz as saying.

The US had blocked the delivery of 28 F-16s after deciding it could no longer certify that Pakistan had no nuclear programme.