ISLAMABAD, April 12: The defence committee of the Cabinet on Monday met and discussed "important" matters related to the defence. Official sources told Dawn that the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was briefed about the progress on the procurement of US military equipment, after Pakistan being declared as a major non-Nato ally (MNNA).

An official announcement said that the meeting deliberated on defence policy of Pakistan 2004 and important decisions were taken. An official source said that Pakistan has received signals from the US that it would issue clearance to Belgium to sell two squadrons of F/16 to Pakistan.

Pakistan has asked the US to refurbish Pakistan's depleted F/16 fleet of 40 aircraft, which was depleted when Pakistan was fighting for US interests in Afghanistan when it was invaded by the USSR.

Pakistan has given a long list of weapons systems which it wanted to purchase under the US$3 billion assistance package. Pakistan is attempting to strike a balance in the region by purchasing high quality radar system to match Indian radars system which it is acquiring from Israel.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Aziz Khan, three services chiefs, principal secretary to the prime minister, Cabinet secretary, defence secretary and other senior officials.