US: F-16 to Pakistan not a message to India
THE US has said that its decision to provide a $450m sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet is not designed as a message to India rather it is associated with America's defence partnership with Islamabad which is primarily focused on counterterrorism and nuclear security.
On September 8, the Joe Biden administration approved a $450m F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan, reversing the decision of the previous Donald Trump administration to suspend military aid to Islamabad for providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
India has conveyed to the US its concerns over Washington's decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet fleet.
In a notification to the US Congress, the state department made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale for sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $450 million, arguing that this will sustain Islamabad's capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet.
Responding to a question, Dr Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, on Thursday (22) said that the recent US action with Pakistan on F-16 is not designed as a message to India as it relates to its relationship with Russia.
‘The decision inside the US government around the F-16 issue was made predicated on US interests associated with our defence partnership with Pakistan which is primarily focused on counterterrorism and nuclear security and as the (US defence) secretary Lloyd Austin made clear to (Indian defence) minister Rajnath Singh during their call last week, this case did not include any upgrades or munitions,' he told a group of reporters on Thursday and think-tank experts during a virtual round table.
On September 14, Singh conveyed to Austin India's concerns over Washington's decision.