‘Following The Issue Closely’, US Keeps Its Eyes And Ears Open As India Gives Proof Of Pakistan’s Misuse Of F-16

India has given proof to the United States about Pakistan’s use of the US-made F-16 fighter aircraft and AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile during an unsuccessful aerial raid on Indian military installations on 27 February, official sources said Tuesday (5 March), reports Business Standard.

According to the report, India was confident about Washington conducting a thorough investigation into use of the US-manufactured aircraft as well as the missile onboard it in the offensive operation against India, sources said.

The US, as part of the purchasing agreement, had put restrictions and barred Pakistan from using the F-16s against any other country. The aircraft were given only for the purpose of self-defence and anti-terror operations. The agreement also states that Pakistan needs prior permission from the US to use certain weapons that come fitted in the aircraft, as quoted in reports.

Earlier, India on 28 February has shown parts of the AMRAAM missile used against it by Pakistani F-16 jets.

Meanwhile, the US State department, on the questions that Pakistan has blatantly violated the end-user agreement on F-16 fighter jets that it got from the United States, said that it is closely following the issue.

“We've seen those reports and we're following that issue very closely,” US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino was quoted from the report.

“I can't confirm anything, but as a matter of policy, we don't publicly comment on the contents of bilateral agreements that we have in this regard involving US defence technologies nor the communications that we have with other countries about that. So, we're taking a look and we're going to continue to take a look. I'm going to leave it at that,” Palladino said.