Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Tuesday said Pakistan would take a final decision on the purchase of F-16 aircraft by next year, after studying the needs for reconstruction of quake devastated areas and international assistance it has received.

Talking to journalists at the Chaklala air base after seeing off US Vice President Dick Cheney, who was here on a day-long visit, the Pakistani foreign minister said that the government would complete its assessment by next year and take the final decision.

Kasuri said that the estimates would take into account the expected expenditures on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the quake-affected areas and the international assistance the country received for the Oct. 8 earthquake.

He said that only then the country would decide about the number of aircraft it would acquire and when.

He stressed that Pakistan could not ignore its defense requirements but added that due to the Oct. 8 earthquake, Pakistan did not enter the deal for F-16 aircraft as provision of relief was the first priority for the government.

Commenting on Cheney's visit, he said that it was reflective of very strong Pak-US ties though it was short.

He said that during his visit, Cheney discussed in details with Pakistani President Musharraf bilateral ties, matters of mutual cooperation, besides exchanging views on regional and international issues.

Kasuri said that both the leaders discussed Pak-US relations, and help and assistance of the United States in the relief efforts after the Oct. 8 earthquake.

He said that the visit of US Vice President would promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2005)