KARACHI, Jan 20: The Pakistan Air Force is considering buying a mix of new and used F-16 fighter jets, says Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat.

The PAF chief was addressing members of the English-speaking Union of Pakistan (EUP) at a local hotel.

Highlighting the PAF’s high deterrence value, he said Pakistan was fully capable of defending itself and he hoped there would be no war.

He said that maintaining a strong and credible defence was expensive, and pointed out that the PAF needed hardware worth $3-4 billion to maintain a minimum deterrence capability.

He said that various versions of F-16s were available to PAF from the United States. “We are also considering to buy used F-16s from elsewhere. However, we will prefer a mix of new and old F-16s fighter planes for the PAF,” he added.

He said the PAF was focusing on strengthening its reconnaissance and surveillance capability, strike power, detection of enemy aircraft, platform to combat and weapons for defence.

The PAF chief reminded that India had withdrawn its forces from the border with Pakistan after nine months as western countries issued travel advisories asking their citizens not to travel to India in 2002.—PPI