Pakistan steps up use of Fort Worth-made F-16s in fight against insurgents

Pakistan’s air force is stepping up its use of Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth-made F-16 fighter jets in attacks against insurgents, a top Pentagon official said Thursday.




"They’ve been using the F-16 very extensively," said David Sedney, deputy assistant defense secretary for Afghanistan and Pakistan. "There has been real significant progress."



Some U.S. lawmakers have said the jets aren’t suited for counterinsurgency and will only displease neighboring India. The aircraft are being used by Pakistan’s military in its largest offensive, launched Oct. 17 against Taliban militants on the ground. The campaign is sending 28,000 troops into South Waziristan to take on the Mehsud guerrilla faction, blamed for 80 percent of terrorist attacks.



The role of the F-16s "has grown as a result of the increased training and increased capabilities the Pakistanis have," Sedney said. "The ability to target is much more precise, which of course cuts down on collateral damage" and accidental civilian deaths, he said.



Pakistan’s increased use of the world’s most widely deployed fighter is an example of growing ties between the U.S. and Pakistan, Sedney said. There have also been more U.S. military officer exchanges, intelligence sharing and cross-border coordination with U.S. troops in Afghanistan, he said.



Pakistani pilots were scheduled this year to train with U.S. pilots for nighttime F-16 attacks against terrorist ground targets.



Pakistan is buying 18 new F-16 fighters from Lockheed Martin as part of a $5.1 billion arms package that includes electronics and weapons upgrades for 46 existing Pakistani F-16s.