Pakistan F-16 sale should not concern India: Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Web Desk/APP) - The United States Defense Department said on Tuesday that the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan should not be a cause of concern to India as the deal "always" took into account the regional security situation.

The decision by the US State Department to sell additional F-16 aircraft to Pakistan and a subsequent notification to Congress by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) which broker government-to-government arms sale came in the face of staunch resistance by the Indian lobby in Washington and some US Congressmen who argued these fighter jets would be used against India.

The Pentagon spokesperson again reiterated the point at the briefing about the importance of the F-16 deal.

“We think this is a capability that will help Pakistan in its counterterrorism effort and we think that’s in the national security interests of the United States,” he said.

India had expressed its disappointment at the decision by the Obama administration to sell F-16 aircraft to help Pakistan in its counter terrorism operations. Pakistan has expressed its surprise over the Indian reaction to the proposed deal.