India summons US Ambassador on decision to sell F-16 to Pakistan

The US has decided to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a decision that India is disappointment about

India today summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma here and conveyed its "displeasure and disappointment" over Obama administration's decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Verma to the South Block and told him about India's concerns over US military aid to Pakistan which New Delhi believes goes into anti-India activities.

External Affairs Ministry also issued a strong statement expressing its disappointment over the US decision. It also said that it disagrees with the rationale that these arms transfer to Pakistan will help in combating terrorism.

"We are disappointed at the decision of the Obama administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircrafts to Pakistan. We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism.
 
"The record of the last many years in this regard speaks for itself," the MEA statement said.

The Obama administration today said it has decided to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan worth nearly USD 700 million. The proposal has now gone to the US Congress, which has 30 days to take a decision on it.