Pakistan has signed a deal with Turkey for the purchase of 30 attack helicopters estimated to be worth about $1.5 billion, against the backdrop of a massive cut in military aid for Islamabad from Washington. The manifesto said that “a very short while ago a contract for the sale of 30 attack helicopters was signed with Pakistan”. This will also be the largest defence deal between Turkey and Pakistan, which has turned to countries such as Russia for military hardware following sharp cuts in military aid from the US. In January, the US suspended nearly $2 billion in security-related aid, saying Pakistan hasn’t acted decisively against terrorists on its soil. Last November, Pakistan’s then defence production minister Rana Tanveer Hussain had said his country planned to procure 30 attack helicopters and four warships from Turkey.

Source: Hindustan Times May 31, 2018 16:30 UTC