F-16 sale to Pakistan hits snag in Congress

"We have reason to be concerned that all security conditions be in place before we approve the sale," Rep. Tom Lantos, the top Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

On June 28, the Bush administration formally notified Congress of plans to sell Pakistan up to 36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 Falcon fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp. in a deal worth up to $5 billion if all options are exercised.

Congress has the power to block such a sale by enacting a resolution of disapproval in both houses within 30 days of the notification date.

"We are dealing with a country that gave us A.Q. Khan," said Lantos, referring to a Pakistani scientist who confessed in 2004 to peddling banned nuclear wares around the world for years despite international safeguards.