WASHINGTON, May 8: The United States has confirmed the sale of some of the missiles from a package of $1.3 billion of military equipment Pakistan has ordered. Dawn reported on Saturday that the order, placed by the Pakistan navy, includes eight P3-C Orion aircraft, six Phalanx close-in weapons systems and at least 60 Harpoon missiles.

The purchase is part of the US military assistance for Pakistan announced in 2003. Confirming the report, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said that the United States has approved the sale of two sets of advanced missiles to Pakistan valued at a total of $226 million.

The agency notified Congress of two potential foreign military sales to Pakistan: $180 million in Harpoon Block II missiles and $46 million in AIM-9M-1/ 2 Sidewinder missiles.