India raised strong objections over U.S. sale of F-16 spares package to Pakistan

Despite a period of intensive engagement, India and the U.S. widen differences on F-16s, Russian oil, IPEF trade talks and India-China LAC disengagement

India raised “strong objections” during official meetings with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu in Delhi last week, to the U.S. plan for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) worth $450 million for hardware, software and spares for the F-16 fighter jet programme with Pakistan.

The Hinduhas learnt that officials protested the decision at “each and every” bilateral meeting Mr. Lu and his delegation had during their visit for the Quad Senior Officials Meeting (SOM).

In particular, the Indian side cited concerns about the technology and support being made available to Pakistan for the F-16s, that Pakistan claims are needed for “counter-terrorism operations”, and the government conveyed that it believes they are used for operations against India.

Apart from the SOM, Mr. Lu and Defense Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner held intersessional 2+2 meetings with delegations from the Ministry of Defence and External Affairs. In addition, he met with Joint Secretary Vani Rao separately, and also called on Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

Mr. Lu told officials that the FMS F-16 package was a maintenance deal for F-16s, some of which are 40 years old and part of the U.S.’s global policy of maintaining its defence sales for their entire lifecycle.

However, New Delhi is understood to have repeated its skepticism on the issue and made its displeasure known quite clearly. In contrast to 2016, when the MEA had issued a statement expressing its “disappointment” of the planned sale of F-16s, and then (Foreign Secretary) S. Jaishankar had summoned the US Ambassador to protest, this time the MEA has chosen not to make any public comment.

“We heard several concerns from the Indian govt,” admitted Mr. Lu in an interview to the India Today TV channel. “Let me say this very clearly, this is a safety and maintenance program. There is no new aircraft being considered, no new capability and no new weapons system,” he added.