ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, JULY 8 – SPA – Pakistan would start to receive delivery of US F-16 fighter jets delivery within next two years, Pakistan’s new ambassador to Washington Mehmood Durrani said. Besides F-16, Pakistan would also get other weapon systems, he said and termed a recent meeting between Pakistani and US energy officials encouraging. Durrani said it would boost bilateral cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries. Meanwhile, the ambassador has presented his credentials to US President George W Bush at the White House. In his remarks, on this occasion, Durrani said that his endeavour would be to further strengthen and expand the strategic partnership between the two countries in the light of the understanding reached during Bush’s meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad, in March this year. He said that he was looking forward to working closely with the US Administration and Congress to intensify cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields. The ambassador replaced General (retd) Jehangir Karamat, who served on the post from November 17, 2004 to June 4, 2006. Durrani took charge of the post on June 6, and presented copies of his ‘Letters of Credence’ to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the State Department on June 9. He has varied experience of serving both in military and civil organizations on important positions. He is also author of different books and has represented Pakistan in different countries. --SPA 08/07/2006 11:42 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/374058