Pakistan was at the center of a controversy over the US upgrade to the Air Force’s F-16 program after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized the US decision to provide a $450 million military aid package to India’s northwestern rival. Mint broke Pakistan’s F-16 program and India’s concerns.
What is the dispute about?
On 7 September, the United States government announced that Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, designed and manufactured by the US, would receive “technical and logistical services for follow-on support”. To put it bluntly, the US will also provide maintenance assistance. As for the upgrades and improvements in the F-16’s capabilities, Washington claims that the upgrade will help Pakistan contribute to counter-insurgency operations in the region.
New Delhi has realized its concerns. Jaishankar, while visiting the US, said that the US justification for Pakistan’s upgrade of the F-16 was “not fooling anyone”. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed his concerns to the US.
What is the story of Pakistan’s F-16s?
The US began supplying F-16s to Pakistan in 1983. The jets were first sold to Pakistan after Islamabad proved to be an important ally in the fight against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Supply was far from smooth. Because of Pakistan’s rogue nuclear program, the US passed the Pressler Amendment which prohibited the sale of F-16s to the Pakistani Air Force. The Americans made several attempts to sell aircraft manufactured in other countries such as Indonesia but these plans ultimately failed. In 2005, the program was renewed after Islamabad became a major ally in the US war on terrorism. More jets were supplied in 2014. Pakistan now has about 85 of these.
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Why is India worried?
New Delhi and Islamabad have been engaged in a battle for profit in the air for decades. The introduction of the F-16 in the 1980s gave Pakistan an edge over the Indian Air Force. India has corrected this imbalance in recent years, particularly with the acquisition of the Rafale fighter jets. On the other hand, F-16s are getting old for some time now. The US sustenance program, which among many suspects could include advanced capabilities for the F-16, could revive Pakistan’s fighter fleet.
The F-16 has also been used in operations against India. During the aerial combat after the 2019 Balakot attacks, the Pakistan Air Force used an F-16 equipped with AMRAAM missiles to shoot down an Indian MiG-21. This was reportedly done in breach of understanding with the US about the use of the jet, and Washington is said to have issued a written note to top Pakistani military officials.
How has the US responded to India’s concerns?
US Assistant Secretary of Defense Eli Ratner argued that “the action on the F-16 is not designed to be a message to India as it relates to its relationship with Russia. Inside the US government around the F-16 issue.” The decision was taken, based on US interests linked to our defense partnership with Pakistan, which primarily focuses on counter-terrorism and nuclear security.
State Department spokesman Ned Price echoed that line and said that both India and Pakistan were US partners. “We have common interests in many matters. And our relationship with India is in itself. Our relationship with Pakistan is in itself,” Price said.
What are America’s intentions?
This is where matters get even more complicated. Some have speculated that the US decision comes as a reward for Pakistan’s support in the recent killing of terrorist leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. While this remains controversial, analysts say Washington may prevent Pakistan from getting too close to China. Islamabad’s fighter fleet now has more Chinese-made fighters than American ones, but the F-16 is still viewed as the superior within the Pakistani military. Either way, it shows that Washington wants to maintain relations with the powers that be in Pakistan, however limited.
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