Pakistan to get U.S. planes this year

The United States will supply two P-3 Orion surveillance planes to Pakistan this year, Pakistani news media reported Wednesday.

The report, published in several Pakistani newspapers, said Washington will send six more such planes to Pakistan next year.

The eight P-3 Orion planes are part of a $1.2 billion arms package the United States offered to Pakistan late last year in return for its support to the U.S.-led war against terror.

P-3 Orion are naval surveillance planes and the Pentagon says Pakistan will use the planes to enhance its capability to monitor terrorists trying to enter the country.

Each plane costs $970 million.

© Copyright 2005 by United Press International