The United States has informed Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani during his recent visit to the country that it is preparing an F-16 fighter deal with Pakistan, Defence and Foreign Affairs Daily reported.

Quoting 'highly placed' Washington sources, the report said US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld broke the 'disappointing' news to Advani in a 'very private meeting'.

The proposed deal includes the sale of the new Lockheed Martin F-16 jets.

"The announcement (of sales) would be made during the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is due to arrive in Washington on June 24. The proposed sale would symbolise the commitment of the US administration to Pakistan, which is now being seen as increasingly central in the US strategy to contain Iran and to isolate North Korea," the report said.

On the 'private' meeting, the report said, "Rumsfeld broke the news of the intended sale in a special, and very private, meeting with Advani, when the deputy premier arrived at the Willard Hotel, in Washington, on June 8. The meeting was highly unusual in that Rumsfeld wanted to tell Advani personally of the proposed sale to Pakistan, in order to avoid the news reaching the Indian government through less formal channels."

It said Indians were clearly unhappy at the news, but, given the requirement of maintaining good relations with Washington, they did not leak the news to the media.