The Biden administration has informed Congress of a proposed foreign military sale of $450 million to Pakistan to maintain the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 program, despite “serious objections” from India.
According to a story from The Hindu, India voiced its displeasure with this potential sale when it was certified by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) last week.
According to the journal, after the DSCA claimed that the proposed sale “does not involve any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions” and “would not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs “protested” against the sale of jet spares to Pakistan.
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, in response to a question in this vein, “Well, we did recently inform Congress of a proposed foreign military sale valued at $450 million for maintenance and sustainment services for the Pakistani Air Force’s F-16 program.”
The representative from the United States emphasized Pakistan’s significance as a partner in the fight against terrorism.
The policy of offering life cycle maintenance and sustainment packages for US-origin platforms has been in place for some time, he added.
Pakistan’s F-16 program is an integral aspect of US-Pakistan ties, and the proposed sale will ensure that the country can continue to respond effectively to emerging counterterrorism challenges.
We hope that Pakistan will use this fleet to take consistent action against all terrorist groups, as it will greatly aid in Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
