NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s use of F-16s against India on February 27 has raised tough questions for Washington, which had justified the sale on grounds of not just combatting terror but also as providing “deterrence value” to Pakistan in case of a future conflict with India.
This is exactly how the then US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson had framed her embassy’s pitch for an exception to allow for diversion of American counter-terrorism financial assistance to Pakistan for purchasing F-16s and related enhancements.
The package included 500 AIM-120-C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), remnants of one of which was recovered and exhibited as evidenced by the Indian Air Force.
An enhanced F-16 program also has deterrence value by giving Pakistan time and space to employ a conventional, rather than nuclear, reaction in the event of a future conflict with India,” wrote Patterson in her 20-paragraph communique, as disclosed by WikiLeaks, to Washington on April 24, 2008, giving reasons to justify the deal using US taxpayer money.
Those familiar with the ongoing conversation with the US told ET that India has already asked the Donald Trump administration to ascertain if the use of F-16s and AMRAAMs violated end-user conditions.
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