The row over the stripped down version of avionics and fighter systems on the 18 new and upgraded second-hand F-16s seemed to have blown over with Pakistan agreeing to the terms and signing the letter of acceptance in Rawalpindi. It is not clear why Pakistan has now agreed to accept the planes with the stripped down electronic systems when only a few days it complained about such a proposal.
However, the US said that it will hold Pakistan to its conditions that it needs approval from Washington for flights out of Pakistani air space, American presence at bases to monitor compliances with the “security plan,” and restricting only those with pre-approved to have access to these planes. Many Pakistani analysts balked at this idea, but retired Pakistani Air Marshals said that these conditions existed even for other aircraft and a standard part of any deal from the US .