India has voiced "serious objections" to the U.S. plan for $450 million in foreign military sales for hardware, software, and spare parts for the F-16 fighter jet programme with Pakistan during official meetings with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu in Delhi last week.

According to S. Arun Mohan's report from May 30, 2011, which was based on private cables obtained by The Hindu from WikiLeaks, the F-16 fighter purchase was utilised by the United States to "produce foreign policy benefits for the U.S. at the price of Pakistan."

Concerns raised by the Indian side related to the technology and support provided for the F-16s, which Pakistan claims are required for "counter-terrorism operations."

They would be employed, according to the administration, in operations against India.

In accordance with the U.S.'s global strategy of sustaining its defence products for the duration of their life cycles, Lu explained to officials that the FMS package was a maintenance agreement for F-16s, some of which are 40 years old.

A single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft called the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was initially created by General Dynamics for the US Air Force (USAF).

Source: The Hindu

https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=GUFA90CRJ.1&imageview=0&utm_source=epaper&utm_medium=sharearticle