Despite India’s concerns, the United States is prepared to give Pakistan a USD 450 million F-16 sustainment package as the Senate has not objected to the deal within the required 30-day notice period. The US Congress was informed on September 7 by the Department of State, via the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of the Biden Administration’s decision to proceed with this defense sale to Pakistan under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
“Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Robert Menendez told the Senate days later on September 13.
The Biden administration had overturned the Trump administration’s decision to suspend military assistance to Islamabad and approved the F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan last month.
India had raised strong objection and asked the rationale for Washington providing Pakistan with F-16 security assistance worth USD 450 million. On the US visit last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the US and Pakistan’s relationship has “not served” either of the two countries and raised questions on the Biden administration’s decision to approve a USD 450 sustenance package for the F-16 fleet.
The US maintained at many levels, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the White House, that the proposed sale will maintain Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future ‘counterterrorism’ threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet.
Additionally, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin received a message from Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressing India’s concern with Washington’s decision to provide the sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
During a telephone conversation, Singh informed Austin of India’s concerns regarding Washington’s plans to provide Pakistan with the package.
“I conveyed India’s concern at the recent US decision to provide sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet,” the defense minister had informed on Twitter on September 14.
