On patrol with a Stryker unit along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Air Force is set to deliver the first of 18 new F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters to the Pakistani air force in a sign of deepening relations between the United States and Pakistan, according to AFPS’ Lisa Daniel and Donna Miles.

Three F-16s are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on June 26, with 15 more to be delivered later this year and next, Air Force Maj. Todd Robbins, the Pakistan country director in the office of the undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs, said in an interview with American Forces Press Service.

“This is the most visible part of a strong and growing relationship between the two air forces that will benefit us both near-term and long-term,” Robbins said.

This sale of F-16s to Pakistan renews new aircraft sales that existed between the United States and Pakistan in the 1980s, but were halted in the 1990s. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other U.S. military and civilian leaders have spoken out about “not repeating the mistakes” of the U.S. halt in relations with Pakistan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In March, the United States and Pakistan held their first ministerial-level strategic dialogue here, co-chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. High-level officials from both governments participated in the dialogue, including Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gates said then that the talks included discussion of “how we can help Pakistan in dealing with the security challenges that face them, but also face us and NATO as well.”

The two countries held follow-up meetings in Pakistan in early June that focused on improving military-to-military relations and security cooperation, officials said.

Relations with Pakistan improved after Sept. 11, 2001, Robbins said, “and this is just one very tangible example of the currently strong and growing relationship between the U.S. Air Force and the Pakistan air force and, in the larger context, between the United States and Pakistan.”

The F-16 is a multirole jet fighter sold to 24 countries around the world, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. The 18 being sold to Pakistan are the Block 52 versions of the aircraft, Robbins said, which will give Pakistan new capabilities, including day-night, all-weather and precision-attack capabilities.

“They’ve not had [these capabilities] before, so this is a major milestone in the U.S. providing this capability, which older models [of F-16s] don’t have,” he said. “This will enable them to strike terrorists within their borders while helping them to avoid collateral damage. It’s an increase in capabilities that are beneficial to us all.”

Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the 18 new aircraft, in addition to $1.3 billion in upgrades to its existing F-16 fleet, which are to begin being delivered in 2012, Robbins said.

The Air Force also is training Pakistan air force pilots. The first eight recently completed training with the Arizona National Guard in Tucson, with additional training done by Lockheed Martin, Robbins said. The Air Force also is training Pakistanis in night-attack training and recently completed training for four instructors and five flight leads, he said.

The newly appointed Taliban shadow governor of Baghlan province was captured May 31 by an Afghan-international force as he prepared to leave for Pakistan.

His predecessor was killed in a coalition airstrike the previous day, and this capture marks the third time in as many weeks that the Taliban have had to replace named shadow governors for Baghlan province because of coalition operations.

An insurgent was killed and several other suspects also were detained by the assault force during the operation in Baghlan-e Jadid district after intelligence information revealed insurgent activity.

As the joint force prepared to transport troops from the completed operation, it was discovered that a helicopter’s transmission and engines were irreparably damaged and it could not return to its base. Troops left using another helicopter after maintenance experts inspected the aircraft and decided to destroy it on site. The helicopter did not receive any enemy fire.

In another operation, Afghan National Army soldiers of the 207th Corps, supported by troops with the NATO International Security Assistance Force, discovered a weapons cache in Bala Murghab, Badghis province, May 31 after receiving a tip from civilians.

The cache contained 11 mortar rounds, eight heavy artillery rounds, a mine, 100 steel projectiles and several items suitable for the production of improvised explosive devices.

Afghanistan national security forces with ISAF partners conducted an operation in the Baghran valley May 30 to disrupt Taliban command, control, and influence in the area, and to capture an insurgent who has supplied Taliban fighters with weapons and components for roadside bombs throughout northern Helmand province.

The Afghan and ISAF combined force surrounded numerous compounds suspected of being hideouts for insurgents in the valley. After ensuring all residents exited the compounds safely, the combined force detained two men. Several women and children were protected in the operation, in which no shots were fired and no civilians were injured.

The United States recently donated a number of water trucks, field artillery cannon and patrol boats to the Pakistani government, according to U.S. State Department news releases.

Four water trucks were provided to the Pakistani Army’s special services group Feb. 12. The next day, Pakistan’s maritime security agency obtained five American fast-patrol boats, while the Pakistani army received 48 self-propelled field artillery cannon.

The water trucks will be employed in humanitarian relief missions in Pakistan’s South Waziristan region. The boats will enhance Pakistan’s coastal interdiction and patrol capabilities. And, the cannon will be used by Pakistani government forces to combat terrorists that operate in its homeland.

“These field artillery cannons are an important part of enhancing the capabilities of Pakistan’s army as it continues to wage its courageous fight against terrorists who seek to destroy Pakistan’s people and way of life,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan deputy commander, as he officially handed over the M1095A5 howitzers to Pakistani Army Brig. Gen. Farrukh Saeed, commander of the 25th Mechanized Artillery Division.

Nagata also participated in ceremonies featuring the turning over of the water trucks and fast boats to Pakistani senior military officials.

Pakistan is slated to receive another four fast-patrol boats later this year.

“Whether it’s search-and-rescue, combating smugglers, preventing crime or protecting Pakistan’s coastal areas, we hope the increased capabilities these boats provide greatly enhance the MSA’s ability to conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations,” Nagata said during the handover ceremony in Karachi Feb. 13.

During the past three years, U.S. civilian and military assistance to Pakistan has totaled more than $4 billion. Assistance provided and delivered has included support for medical aid, school refurbishment, bridge and well reconstruction, food distribution, agricultural and education projects, 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 10 Mi-17 helicopters, 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.

In addition, the United States has funded and 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 operations, flight safety and military law.

Keeping the border safe and secure, U.S. troops are working with Afghans to protect border cities to Pakistan.

Jim sent this in:

Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is ready to carry out airborne suicide attacks using para-gliders in India, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

The intelligence reports on the LeT’s shopping spree for paragliding equipment in different European countries, including Germany, prompted authorities to ensure tight air security around all vital installations and nearly 326 unmanned, abandoned or mostly unused airstrips spread across the country. The intelligence also suggest the possibility of LeT acquiring related equipment – possibly Chinese made – from within Pakistan.

According to the NACOP acquired report, India’s security agencies have already carried out mock drills in different areas of the country as part of the exercise to prevent airborne suicide attacks by LeT terrorists.

According to intelligence reports, terrorist groups having allegiance to al-Qaeda, Lashker-e-Taiba and Jamat-ul-Dawa were planning to hijack an Air India plane especially operating in or from the countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

India’s civil aviation ministry has directed all the airlines especially Air India to take extra steps besides asking Bureau of civil aviation security to deploy sky marshals on aircraft operating on such routes, the sources said.

The USS San Jacinto left Virginia for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is spending a second day in Pakistan meeting with the country’s military and political leaders.