Pakistan confirmed the Trump administration’s steps to release $ 397 million on Friday as part of the “End User Agreement” about F-16 fighter jets between the two countries.

“The F-16 supervision program is a regular feature of the Pakistan-US defense cooperation under the” End User Agreement, “and Pakistan welcomes his continuation,” spokesman for the Foreign Office Shafqat Ali Khan told his weekly news briefing.

The official confirmation came after reports suggested that the Trump administration released $ 397 million to a US-backed program in Pakistan to make sure the US-made F-16 fighters were hired for terrorist operations and not against rival India.

The spokesman attributed the development to the decades old “robust and strong” ties with the United States.

“Our desire is to continue with this important relationship. The two sides are already engaged through diplomatic channels. Pakistan remains obliged to carry this relationship forward,” Shafqat said.

As for the president’s comments on the left over US weapons, the spokesman said Pakistan had repeatedly expressed concern about the sophisticated weapons in Afghanistan.

“We have raised our concerns that these sophisticated weapons are finding their way into the hands of terrorists performing terrorist activities in Pakistan,” he said.

“We have impressed this question for the international community and the Afghan authorities,” he added.

Pakistan on Friday also commented for the first time officially about the closure of important border crossing with Afghanistan in Torkham.

“About the Torkham border, the problem is essentially that the Afghan side is trying to construct a border post on our side one -sided, and we have urged them to solve such problems through bilateral mechanism, such as the joint coordination commodity meeting, rather than resorting to unilateral actions,” Shafqat told journalists.

“We hope the case would be resolved through dialogue,” he added.

The border crossing remained closed since last Friday over a checking post constructed by the Afghan Taliban without taking Pakistan in confidence. The closure has disturbed the bilateral trade as well as the movement of people who often use the transition to shooting between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the spokesman confirmed that eight Pakistani nationals who had stayed in the United States illegally returned to Pakistan

“About the broader policy, any Pakistani who is staying illegally abroad, we try to facilitate their return, but there are certain procedures in place. If a person proves to remain illegal, we first confirm his/her nationality. Once the nationality is confirmed, we accept our citizens back,” he explained.