Pak trying to acquire helicopters from US

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan is trying to acquire an unspecified number of helicopters from the US for antinarcotics operations after returning nine Huey II helicopters it had acquired in 2002, a newspaper reported.

Islamabad returned five of the nine helicopters, which it received almost 15 years ago for operations in Balochistan and the tribal areas, on Monday. The interior ministry, which was using the aircraft, returned four helicopters on October 15, the Dawn newspaper quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Pakistan received a total of 12 aircraft – the nine helicopters and three fixed-wing Cessna airplanes – from the US for the antinarcotics operations under a renewable agreement. After the expiry of the agreement, Pakistan had the option to return the aircraft or buy them.

Though the US urged Pakistan to “nationalise” the helicopters after the agreement expired, the interior ministry decided to return them. The ministry, however, purchased the three Cessna airplanes, the report said.

The US has made “redirection” arrangements – for selling the helicopters to a third party – and Pakistan cannot buy them. Instead, Pakistan will have to negotiate a fresh deal. The area covered by the anti-narcotics operations is also used by militants for carrying out operations along the Afghanistan border.