WASHINGTON, March 31: It will take almost two months to get congressional approval for selling US-made F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, the State Department told Dawn. On March 25, the Bush administration announced its plan to sell an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. Diplomatic sources in Washington said that Pakistan had asked for 26 aircraft but senior US officials, while announcing the offer, said there was no limit on how many planes Pakistan can buy. Since then some Pakistani officials have indicated that they may ask for 70 F-16 aircraft.

On Wednesday, US ambassador to Islamabad Ryan C. Crocker told reporters that a technical team would visit Pakistan next month to discuss specifics relating to the sale of the aircraft. But before the sale is finalized, the Bush administration needs formal approval from both houses of the US Congress.

Hours after announcing the offer, the administration conveyed its intention of selling F-16s to Pakistan to Congress as part of the Javits report. Named after former Senator Jacob Javits of New York, the report is an annual requirement. Every February, the US President must submit this report to Congress, which includes:

An Arms Sales Proposal listing all probable Foreign Military Sales or Direct Commercial Sales exports for the current calendar year that exceed $7 million for major weapons or weapons-related defence equipment or $25 million for other weapons or weapons-related defence equipment.

Though not classified, the Javits report has never been released to the public. Explaining the legal procedure for seeking Congressional approval, State Department officials told Dawnthe administration had already started the pre-consultation process. During this process, administration officials discuss with the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee various aspects of a proposed sale.

“We answer their questions, telling them what we want to do. If they have any major objections they will let us know,” said a State Department official.