WASHINGTON, July 30: The Bush administration has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two F-16 fighter jets, a down payment on what is expected to be a larger sale of newer US fighters over Indian objections, congressional sources briefed on the plan said on Friday.

The decision to initially provide Pakistan, a war on terrorism ally, with two older but refurbished F-16s comes less than two weeks after President George W. Bush reversed long-standing US policy by promising to help India develop its civilian nuclear power sector. India had expressed concern to Washington about its proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.

One congressional source said of the timing of the decision, “They (Bush administration officials) didn’t want to start moving F-16s to Pakistan until after the Indian prime minister had come and gone.” Notifying Congress just before the start of the month-long August recess could also help “blunt any backlash among the friends of India in Congress, of which there are many,” the congressional source added.

Key lawmakers were notified on Friday of the decision, and administration officials made clear a larger sale of newer fighter planes to Pakistan was still in the works. The White House initially announced plans in March to sell F-16s to Pakistan but offered few details about the number of fighters and specifications.

The sale had been blocked for 15 years to Pakistan for its nuclear weapons programme. Administration officials said the policy change on the planes reflected Islamabad’s role helping the United States in the region after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks. Mr Bush last year named Pakistan a major non-NATO ally, making it easier for the country to acquire US arms.

The single engine, multi-role F-16 is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. Pakistan’s planned purchases would boost its fleet of about 32 F-16s acquired before the US Congress cut off sales in 1990 over Islamabad’s nuclear programme.

India warned the United States in March that F-16 sales to Pakistan could have “negative consequences for India’s security environment.”

In an attempt to address India’s concerns, the Bush administration is letting Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp compete for a potential $9 billion market in India for as many as 126 combat aircraft, as India replaces its fleet of Russian-built MiG-21s.

Lockheed is pitching India its F-16 Block 50/52 and Boeing is offering its dual-engine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.—Reuters

Anwar Iqbal adds: Pakistan embassy in Washington confirmed Bush administration’s decision.

“Islamabad had asked for two F-16s before schedule and Washington agreed to oblige,” said deputy chief of mission Mohammed Sadiq.

A Pakistani team is expected to arrive in Washington in late September or early October to fly the planes home.