External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar objected to Joe Biden’s administration’s decision to approve USD 450 million F-16 fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan, saying that Islamabad-Washington relations have not served the “American interest” so it’s for the United States of America “to reflect what are the merits of this relationship”.
“It’s a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving the American interests,” Jaishankar said at an event organised by the Indian American community in Washington.
“For someone to say I’m doing this as it’s for counter-terrorism when you’re talking of an aircraft like capability of F-16…you’re not fooling anybody by saying these. We think countries make their choices based on their own interest: EAM responds to US F-16 package for Pakistan,” the external affairs minister said.
The Indian government has already registered a strong protest against the US decision to reinstate defence and security assistance to Pakistan through the 450 million F-16 fleet sustainment programme.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also raised India’s concerns in his telephonic conversation with US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin.
\The Joe Biden administration had recently reversed the decision taken by former president Donald Trump.
It may be noted that the Trump administration in 2018 had accused Pakistan of not acting as a partner in its fight against terrorism and stopped all defence and security assistance to Pakistan and accused the country of not acting as a partner in its fight against terrorism.
“The United States Government has notified Congress of a proposed Foreign Military Sales case to sustain the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 programme. Pakistan is an important counterterrorism partner, and as part of longstanding policy, the United States provides life cycle maintenance and sustainment packages for U.S.-origin platforms,” a State Department spokesperson said.
