US defends latest sale of billion-dollar arms cache to Pak

Days after the United States approved a billion dollar sale of military equipments to Pakistan, it has now stepped up to defend the move by arguing that the sale would "enhance" Islamabad's counter-terrorism abilities.

U.S. State Department Acting Spokesperson Marie Harf said that the proposed sale would provide Pakistan military capabilities required to conduct counter terror operations in the country, reported the Dawn.

Harf said that the U.S. had a "very close" counter-terrorism relationship with Pakistan "for very good reasons." She added that Pakistanis had a "serious problem" and that is why the U.S. was helping them.

The statements came after the US State Department gave a final nod to the sale of military equipments, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of 952 million dollars, identifying Pakistan as a nation of vital importance for U.S. foreign policy and national interests.

Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan had submitted the request last year, saying that the weapons were needed for counter-terrorism operations in the country's mountainous regions.

The notification said the government of Pakistan had requested a possible sale of 15 AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters, 32 T-700 GE 401C Engines (30 installed and 2 spares), 1000 AGM-114 R Hellfire II Missiles in containers, 36 H-1 Technical Refresh Mission computers, 17 AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems, 30 629F-23 Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency Communication Systems, 19 H-764 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems, 32 Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized Top Owl, 17 APX-117A Identification Friend or Foe, 17 AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems, 17 AN/ALE-47 Counter-measure Dispenser Sets, 18 AN/APR-39C(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers, 15 Joint Mission Planning Systems, and 17 M197 20mm Gun Systems.