Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday spoke with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin to convey his “concern” about the United States (US) decision to “provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.”
Taking to Twitter, Singh said that the pair had “warm and productive” discussions and spoke of defence cooperation and their shared commitment to strengthening military ties.
Indian officials had also raised “strong objections” to the deal during a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu earlier this month.
According to sources from The Hindu, Indian officials protested the decision at “each and every” discussion during Quad’s Senior Officials Meeting, arguing that Pakistan would use the technology against India and not for counterterrorism, as Pakistan claims.
Singh and Lloyd’s conversation comes just a week after the US State Department approved a $450 million deal for selling F-16 aircraft sustainment and related equipment to Pakistan. Lockheed Martin Corp is the principal contractor of the agreement.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) revealed that under the deal Pakistan would receive engineering, technical, and logistics services. It noted that the agreement would strengthen Pakistan’s counterterorrism capabilities.
I conveyed India’s concern at the recent US decision to provide sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 14, 2022
Look forward to continuing dialogue with Seceratry Austin to further consolidating India-US partnership. 3/3
The DSCA underscored that it does “not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions” and would not “alter the basic military balance in the region.” Rather, it is merely in adherence to US policy to maintain the defence equipment it sells for its entire lifecycle.
Echoing this sentiment, Lu said that the maintenance deal was necessary because the equipment used by Pakistan is 40 years old. Speaking to India Today, the US official highlighted that the agreement ensures that the F-16 “airplanes can meet the air safety standard.”
Lu emphasised, “There is no new aircraft being considered, no new capability and no new weapons system.” He reiterated that the US would only provide “spare parts and maintenance” and the deal was “a sale” and “not assistance.”
I never quite understood why the US ever sold F-16s to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations. Fighter aircraft aren't necessary for counter-terrorism. And now we're sustaining them. No wonder India wonders about the US.https://t.co/JUVLb7Qj6l
— Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) September 10, 2022
Likewise, during a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price described Pakistan as an “important counterterrorism partner” but stressed that the US provides “life cycle maintenance and sustainment packages for U.S.-origin platforms.”
Perhaps alluding to concerns from India, he added that the US “expects” Pakistan to “take sustained action against all terrorist groups.”
There are suggestions, however, that the deal may also be designed to push Pakistan against providing ammunition to Russia, amid reports that army chief General Qamar Javed Baja agreed to such a deal.
Some analysts have also described it as a “reward” to Bajwa for his neutrality during the events that eventually led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan had repeatedly accused the US of staging the plot to remove him and said the army was complicit, an allegation that the US has time and again dismissed.
So US will SELL us spare parts for our F16s. Last time we made a sale agreement to buy F16s they took our money, charged us parking fees & refused to give us the planes we had paid for. Instead they gave us wheat & soya beans, refusing to return the money. https://t.co/u5Hzp0JKsN
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 9, 2022
The American aircraft fleet is an integral part of the Pakistani military arsenal. While Islamabad largely relies heavily on Chinese military equipment, the F-16 is its fleet’s most advanced and effective fighter jet.
Pakistan has repeatedly sought to upgrade the China-made JF-17s, as they emit black smoke, making them an easier target for aerial combat.
Pakistan previously used the F-16 jets to target Balakot in 2019. In fact, India and Pakistan engaged in an aerial fight in Kashmir in 2019 during which India declared that it had downed an F-16 jet, a claim refused by Pakistan.
While India and the US are close allies and Quad partners, several disagreements over the past few months have caused friction.
For instance, India withdrew from trade talks under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework after raising concerns about the discriminatory environmental commitments, labour law requirements, and digital laws that were unfair to developing countries.
It has also pushed back against the US’ repeated calls to distance itself from Russia and even refused to join its G7 allies in capping Russian fuel prices.