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Pakistan retaliated after an air strike by India on the fourth generation American fighter jet F-16.
India bought upgraded Rafale in response to F-16 but India still considers F-16 a major threat
20-minute telephone conversation between Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
New Delhi, Intensifying his protest at the ministerial level, the defense minister on Wednesday asked Washington not to provide military aid to Islamabad in protest against the US decision to provide a $450 million support package for a fleet of F-16 fighter jets. The policy should be maintained. On this occasion, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed India’s strong objection to the proposed F-16 package during a 20-minute telephone conversation with US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin. He tweeted, ‘I expressed India’s concern over the US decision to provide a sustainable package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with Secretary Austin to further strengthen the India-US partnership.’
The confrontation with the Pakistani side came after India carried out air strikes on a fourth generation American fighter jet F-16 on Jaish-e-Mohammed targets in PoK. Although India has purchased the upgraded Rafale in response to the F-16, India still considers the F-16 a major threat. The Defense Minister’s talks with Austin came after India sent a strong message to the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs on the F-16 package.
I conveyed India’s concern over the recent US decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
The Secretariat is expected to continue talks with Austin to further strengthen the India-US partnership. 3/3
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) 14 September 2022
These items are not included in the package
However, after the approval of the IMF package, the big package of F-16 is no less than a gift for the Shahbaz Sharif government. Actually, this package has come to the fore despite India’s strong opposition. However, after India’s tough stand, the US has said that the proposed maintenance package for the F-16 will not include “new capabilities, weapons or munitions”.
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Tags: F-16, India, Pakistan, America
First Published: 15 September 2022, 07:09 IST
