S.Jaishankar questions US F-16 maintenance package to Pakistan.

The US relationship with Pakistan “has not served” either country, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday, questioning the Biden administration’s approval of a maintenance package. $450 million for the F-16 fleet.

“Honestly, it’s a relationship that hasn’t ended up serving Pakistan or American interests well. So really, it’s the United States that needs to reflect today on what the merits of this relationship are and what they get out of it,” Jaishankar said in response to a question during an interaction with American Indians.

Referring to the US argument that the F-16 sustenance package is to fight terrorism, he said that everyone knows where and against whom F-16s are being used. “No one is fooled by saying these things,” he said in response to a question.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration approved a $450 million F-16 fighter fleet sustainment program to Pakistan, reversing the previous Trump administration’s decision to suspend military aid to Islamabad for providing haven for the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

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In a notification to the United States Congress, the State Department determined to approve a potential foreign military sale for sustainment and related equipment at an estimated cost of $450 million, arguing that this will sustain Islamabad’s ability to address current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining its fleet of F-16s.

Referring to the argument put forward by the United States that the F-16 support package is to fight terrorism, he said that the whole world knows where and against whom the F-16s are being used.

In a call with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had expressed India’s concern over the F-16 package to Pakistan.

Article republished from The Wire as part of an agreement between both parties to share content. Link to original article: https://thewire.in/diplomacy/us-pak-relationship-not-served-either-of-two-jaishankar-questions-f-16-sustenance-package