Pakistan navy inducts 2 U.S. maritime patrol aircraft

U.S. and Pakistani officials Tuesday commemorated the delivery of two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft to Pakistan from the United States, the U. S. embassy said.

The aircraft, inducted at a ceremony in south Pakistan's port city of Karachi, will enhance the Pakistan Navy's maritime patrol operations, the U.S. embassy spokesman said.

"The delivery of these aircraft to Pakistan demonstrates the U. S. government's commitment to a long-term, strategic partnership with Pakistan, one based on shared interests and mutual respect, that will continue to expand and deepen in future years," said Brigadier General Nagata.

The aircraft were transferred to the Pakistan Navy during a ceremony in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 30, and flown to Pakistan by U.S. and Pakistan Navy aircrew. By 2012, the Pakistan Navy will receive a total of eight P-3C aircraft.

During the past three years, U.S. civilian and security assistance to Pakistan has totaled more than 4 billion dollars, the embassy spokesman said.

Assistance has included support for medical aid, school refurbishment, bridge and well reconstruction, food distribution, agricultural and education projects.

Specific security assistance includes 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 10 Mi-17 and two Bell 412EP helicopters, five fast patrol boats, 115 Howitzer self-propelled field artillery cannons, more than 450 vehicles for Pakistan's Frontier Corps, hundreds of night vision goggles, day/night scopes, radios, and thousands of protective vests and first-aid items for Pakistan's security forces.

The U.S. also provided training for more than 370 Pakistani military officers in a wide range of leadership and development programs covering topics such as counterterrorism, intelligence, logistics, medical, flight safety, and military law, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua