Summary US State Department has approved a transfer of weapons worth dollar 952 million to Pakistan.
WASHINGTON (Agencies) – The US State Department has approved a transfer of weapons worth dollar 952 million to Pakistan. The move still has to be approved by Congress, the State Department acting spokesperson Marie Harf told reports on Wednesday.
Harf said the “foreign military sale to Pakistan for helicopters and associated equipment, parts and support” will be at an “estimated cost of about USD 952 million,” and will provide Pakistan with military capabilities in support of its counterterrorism operations inside the country.” She affirmed the US maintains “a very close counterterrorism relationship with Pakistan” due to the ongoing threat “from terrorists who have either attacked the United States or American soldiers in Afghanistan and who have tried to plot and plan against the west.”
“Obviously, the remnants of core Al Qaeda are in the mainly tribal area of Pakistan,” she added.
It is in the US natural interest to assist the Pakistani government, Harf noted. As to whether those weapons will be used against Yemeni targets alongside Gulf states, Harf said, “Every county can make their own decisions about if and how they participate in Operation Decisive Storm.
“In the Saudi-led coalition, we have said that we are supporting them logistically, as I said, with munitions and other arms, as well. Every country can make their own decisions about that. That’s not for us to decide,” she concluded.
