Pakistan to only get used F-16s? Musharraf getting cold shoulder from Bush?

Musharraf likely to visit China next month

Hanif Khalid

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to pay an official visit to China next month following an invitation by Chinese president.

Dates for the visit are being finalized through diplomatic channel. However The News has learnt that the visit will take place from February 23 to 25. A high level delegation will accompany the president. Three agreements are likely to be inked during this important visit.

The visit is considered important as it will take place before the visit of the US President George Bush. President Bush is due in India and Pakistan some time in the last week of February or in the first half of March.

President Bush, according to the diplomatic sources has started giving cold shoulder to president Musharraf. United States, it is learnt, will not provide new state of the art F-16 Multi role Fighter Bomber Planes to Pakistan Air force as indicated by Washington last year.

Instead of that Pakistan has been forced to procure the second hand old model F-16 planes. These planes are under the use of Belgium and Netherlands air forces at present. Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, the Chief of Air Staff had recently indicated getting used F-16 planes from other countries.

US president will pay a four days visit to India while he will stay in Pakistan only for a few hours. He may not spend even a night in Islamabad. During his stay in Beijing, President Musharraf will discuss strategic situation in the region with the president and the prime minister of China. He will also discuss the proposed nuclear agreement between India and America.

According to the draft of this agreement, United States will assist India in its mega plan for the development of civilian nuclear technology. Earlier President Musharraf had asked the US government to provide nuclear power plants to Pakistan under the safe guards of International Atomic Energy Agency. But Washington snubbed Pakistan in this matter also.

Now when Washington is offering these nuclear power plants to India as part of Civilian Nuclear Agreement, president Musharraf has no other option but to contact the tested friend of Pakistan, China for the genuine requirements of nuclear power plants. China has already provided two nuclear power plants to Pakistan which have been installed at Chashma, Mianwali.