Why US F-16s for Pakistan is a big worry for India

September 08, 2022 16:03

Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, G Parthasarthy

Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, G Parthasarthy, holds forth on the US approving USD 450 million F-16 fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan to allegedly meet counterterrorism threats.

"The supply of $450 million equipment for F-16 fighters to Pakistan from US, is a matter of concern. Those aircraft have advanced radar and missile capabilities. This is very clearly designed to give Pakistan an edge on fighting capabilities.

"Such capabilities have been used lethally in the past against us. It's a very clear signal to India that they're (US) planning to give Pakistan, the capabilities to match us.

"We should take it up with concern & signal should be sent to the United States not just political but in terms of action or issues of their concern because this is something we just can't ignore," the former envoy said.

The Biden administration has approved a USD 450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan to help it meet current and future counterterrorism threats, in Washington's first major security assistance to Islamabad in four years.

In 2018, Biden's predecessor Donald Trump had suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Islamabad for failing to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network terror groups and dismantle their safe havens in the country.

In a notification to the US Congress on Wednesday, the State Department said it has approved a possible foreign military sale of F-16 case for sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 450 million, arguing that this will sustain Islamabad's capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying the Congress of this possible sale on Wednesday.

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