[ScreamingFist]

Which can be interpreted as the US should have sold attack Apaches or Blackhawks with stand off missiles & upgraded the Pakistani Orions to be used for overland surveillance rather than sell F-16s.

I'm guessing Sukhoi, but I bet the F-16's were promised to Pakistani from day one for their help in Afganistan. They wanted and needed F-16 spares so badly before 9/11 that I can't believe the issue wouldn't have come up from the start.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Yep,that's the most logical reason.Besides,gifts can also be used to encourage behaviour along expected lines,if not for rewards.Pakistan's record on nuclear proliferation & shutting down of terror groups hasn't been too satisfactory.Though I doubt things will drastically change with the military in power.