US admits to Star Lifter flights from BIA

ISLAMABAD - Spokesperson of the US embassy in Islamabad, Richard Snelsire, confirmed to TheNation on
Friday that US military aircrafts have been flying in and out of Benazir Shaheed International Airport in order to
allegedly transport military equipment to Pakistan Army.
Flying of American Star Lifters in and out of Benazir International Airport is not a top secret as they are being
used for the transportation of military equipment from US to Islamabad only. The top leadership of the
democratic government of Pakistan as well as its military high ups are well aware of this, so it is not an issue,
Richard Snelsire told this correspondent.
Pakistan and the United States are important allies in war against terror. Pakistan Army is busy fighting the
militants in areas bordering Afghanistan. In these circumstances we (the Americans) are equipping Pak Army
with latest arms and ammunition (to be used against militants only) that was being transported to Islamabad
through these aircrafts, he added.
When contacted, Spokesperson of Inter Services Public relations Major General Athar Abbas denied these
reports, at first. However, when this correspondent shared US Embassys version with General Athar Abbas, he
admitted, at once, saying, there have been such flights in the past. He was unable to confirm whether any major
arms had been received from the US, beond the night vision goggles. But other defence sources were
categorical that Pakistan has received no heavy arms or weapon systems recently.
The military spokesperson made a commitment with this scribe that he will come up with a statement on this
issue on Saturday after getting confirmation from Civil Aviation Authority if there has been any such flight
recently.
The American Star Lifters have been spotted frequently flying out of Benazir International Airport, Islamabad
(BIAI) recently. According to defence analysts star lifters are heavy lift aircraft of the US army and air force and
are used by the US military to transport heavy equipment lift or large troop movements.
When contacted by this correspondent, the CAA was unable to respond. However well placed sources in CAA
confirmed there have been such flights. Though the CAA is well aware of such flights however, it has no record of
these flights, sources said.