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Pakistan keen to buy F-16s from Norway
Published: December 14, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Norway on Monday sought to further strengthen and broaden bilateral ties in order to promote peace and stability in the region.
According to the official sources, both the countries agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields especially defence sector at an important meeting held here between Minister for Defence, Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, and the visiting Norwegian Defence Minister, Ms Grete Faremo.
The meeting exchanged views on various subjects including defence cooperation, Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, its contribution in UN peacekeeping operations and security situation of the region.
Talking to his Norwegian counterpart, the Minister said that Norway was a friendly country and a valued partner on various international and regional issues, and Pakistan was keen to work closely with Norwegian government for furthering the bilateral relations.
He said both countries needed to enhance collaboration in the field of defence production and proposed to undertake joint ventures especially in shipbuilding and sea boats manufacturing sectors.
The Minister also conveyed that Pakistan was keen to purchase F-16 aircraft fleet which was reportedly being replaced by Norway with F-35 Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The meeting also discussed Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts. The Minister briefed the Norwegian defence delegation about the contribution and achievements made by Pakistan in the war on terror.
He said that the international community was not helping Pakistan in true sense as the war on terror was a very expensive affair.
He noted with concern that the international community had given hopes but failed to fulfil its commitment to establish Reconstruction and Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in FATA which were essential for bringing social and economic prosperity in the terror-stricken region.
He termed the recent statement of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a press conference with the Indian Prime Manmohan Singh in Berlin as unfortunate blaming Pakistan for the Bombay terrorist attacks.
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