New Delhi: India lodged its protest with the US at the Defence Ministerial-level today over its recent decision to provide “sustenance package” of $450 million to Pakistan for its F-16 fighter fleet.
India’s “concerns” were conveyed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a telephonic call with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin, it was officially announced here.
Over a week back, the US announced its decision to provide Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the tune of $450 million to Pakistan for upgrading and maintenance of its F-16 fighter planes.
The US argued that it was providing the funds to help Pakistan in counter-terrorism activities.
Today, Rajnath Singh took up the issue with US Secretary of Defence in the context of regional issues.
The two leaders “affirmed their shared desire for maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond,” said an official statement here.
It added that Singh “conveyed India’s concerns over the US decision to provide sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet”.
The statement did not elaborate on India’s “concerns” but New Delhi apprehends that the funds, besides strengthening Pakistan’s military capabilities, would also be utilized by the Pakistani military for boosting terror activities directed against India.
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The statement said that Singh and Lloyd reviewed multi-faceted India-US defence cooperation and reiterated mutual commitment to further strengthen military-to-military ties.
“Secretary Austin expressed support for India’s defence modernisation programme and looked forward to further strengthening India-US defence industrial and technology collaboration,” the release said.
The Joe Biden Administration’s decision, notified to the US Congress, runs contrary to the previous Donald Trump’s government’s policy of denying any kind of military aid to Pakistan since 2018 because of Islamabad’s continued support to terrorism.
The US Department of Defence or Pentagon has said the FMS to Pakistan does not include “any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions”.
It said the decision follows Pakistan’s request to consolidate prior F-16 sustainment and support the Pakistan Air Force F-16 fleet by reducing duplicate case activities and adding additional continued support elements.
According to the Pentagon, the decision is aimed at supporting the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with it and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations.
The move is to ensure Pakistan’s participation in F-16 Aircraft Structural Integrity Programme, electronic combat international security assistance programme, international engine management programme, engine component improvement programme, and other technical coordination groups; aircraft and engine hardware and software modifications and support and aircraft and engine spare repair/return parts.
Earlier, defending the decision, a US State Department spokesperson said, “Pakistan is an important counterterrorism partner, and as part of longstanding policy, the United States provides life cycle maintenance and sustainment packages for US-origin platforms.”
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