India has lodged a protest with the US for finalising a deal to provide a $450-million sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
On September 14, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh talked to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin over the phone and conveyed his country’s concerns to the US official.
The US-built aircraft are a critical part of the military arsenal of Pakistan, whose arch-rival India worries that the fleet could be used against it by its neighbour.
Taking to Twitter, Singh said, “I conveyed India’s concern at the recent US decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.”
“Had a warm and productive telephonic conversation with the US Secretary of Defence, Mr Lloyd Austin. We discussed the growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defence & security cooperation.”
“We also discussed ways to strengthen technological and industrial collaboration and also explore cooperation in emerging and critical technologies,” he said.