 "Trump clears $397 mn fund for Pakistan to sustain F-16 fleet but conditions apply")
Last week, the US administration under President Donald Trump authorised the release of several billion dollars in frozen foreign aid for a variety of security-related exemptions.
In that list of exemptions was $397 million to Pakistan for maintaining its F-16 fighter jet fleet.
This move marks a reversal from Trump’s 2018 policy, during his first term, when he suspended security assistance to Pakistan, citing concerns over insufficient action against terrorist networks.
The subsequent Biden administration lifted this ban in 2022, approving a $450 million package for the sustainment of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
Use of F-16s after Balakot strike
The mention of F-16 is especially notable today (February 26) on the sixth anniversary of the Balakot airstrike . In response to the airstrike, Pakistan had scrambled F-16 planes and used them in a dogfight against Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets. One Pakistani Air Force (PAF) F-16 was also shot down by then-Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
More than its rather pricey fighter jet being shot down by IAF, a bigger concern for Pakistan at the time had been that it even used the F-16s in the first place.
According to the end-use agreement that Pakistan signed with the US while acquiring the jets, these warplanes can are to be used strictly for counter-terrorism operations.
India had raised the issue of the end-use agreement being violated. In 2022, when Biden lifted the ban on security assistance for Pakistan, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had voiced his criticism, stating, “You’re not fooling anybody” regarding the intended use of the F-16s.
US spending millions to monitor Pakistan’s F-16s
Trump appears set to remedy this situation. The $397 million is for a US-backed program in Pakistan. Reuters cited a congressional aide as saying that the program monitors Islamabad’s use of US-made F-16 fighter jets to ensure they are employed for counter-terrorism operations and not against India.
For the US, scrutiny on Pakistan’s use of US military technology is all the more pertinent given Islamabad’s growing economic and military ties with China. The concern is that increased closeness on China could compromise the integrity of US defence assets provided to Pakistan.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThis is why Pakistan is not even allowed to host the F-16s at the same base as the JF-17s– which are made jointly by China and Pakistan.
With inputs from agencies
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