ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday sought to allay fears raised by some members of the United States Congress that it would transfer F-16 technology to a third country and said it was willing to give an appropriately-worded assurance on this.

"We do not do that," said Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. "Also a safety clause is inserted into such agreements. This issue can be addressed when we reach that stage [of signing the agreement]. We will be willing to consider what is being proposed, and of course, we can look at some appropriate language that we would not transfer F-16 technology to a third country."

The Bush administration had notified the U.S Congress of its intention to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. The spokeswoman was reacting to reports of some Congress members being opposed to the deal for fear that Pakistan would sell the technology to China.

Ms. Aslam said this did not mean the Congress would block the sale to Pakistan. This was part of the procedure by which the Congress would get briefed by the Bush administration on the deal, she said.

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