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Pakistan has received a sustainability package of $450 million from the US for the F-16 aircraft.
India is strongly opposing taking this decision without informing America.
The US said – new weapons or ammunition will not be included in the maintenance package.
New Delhi. India has strongly opposed the US over the $450 million ‘sustainment package’ given to Pakistan for the F-16 aircraft without informing. The protest was voiced by Donald Lu, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. The timing of this decision has also been opposed. The Government of India believes that this decision will not have any impact on the fast growing mutual relations. This will only create some discomfort in the relations between the two countries. Because America did not inform India about this decision earlier. Which is having a serious impact on India’s security.
According to a report in the Times of India, this aid to Pakistan was stopped by Donald Trump’s administration in 2018. Now the Joe Biden administration has changed that decision. The announcement was made at a time when India was hosting US officials. Including Lou himself. When the US announced that it was holding a US-India Two Plus Two Intersectional Meeting and Maritime Security Dialogue. India has taken this issue with Lu very seriously. Hope the US will keep India’s security in mind.
While the US has said that the new maintenance package will not include new capabilities, weapons or ammunition. The two plus two talks between India and the US were held on September 7. While the meeting was underway, the US approved a Congressional resolution that included a repair package for Pakistan’s F-16 aircraft. A US State Department spokesman said Pakistan is a major participant in counter-terrorism activities. According to the current policy, the US will do the repair work of the weapons sold.
India believes that Pakistan’s F-16 fleet is targeted at India. However, some of these aircraft are not in operation. India is also wondering how Pakistan is getting such American support without any cut in its defense ties with China! There is also speculation that the package was received by Pakistan to allow the use of Pakistan’s airspace to kill Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. Whereas Pakistan has always denied this allegation of Taliban.
Biden sees Indo-US ties as vital to global peace and economy: US official
Significantly, in 2018 the administration of President Donald Trump had banned any kind of military aid to Pakistan. Whereas Joe Biden’s administration has reversed that decision. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, some differences have arisen with the US regarding India’s stand. India has increased its energy imports from Russia. PM Narendra Modi recently said that there is tremendous potential for energy cooperation with Russia.
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tags: america, F-16, India, Pakistan
First Published: 11 September 2022, 08:15 IST
