F-16 Jets

Biden's comment came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had begun exacting its revenge for Ukraine's resistance to its invasion with relentless attacks in the east

The US on Tuesday defended its decision to approve a USD 450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan, saying it is "our obligation" to provide military equipment to ensure that the planes are maintained and sustained to bolster Islamabad's capability to deal with "clear" terrorist threats. Early this month, the Biden administration reversed the decision of the previous Trump administration to suspend military aid to Islamabad for providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, and approved the F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the US, has questioned the rationale behind Washington's USD 450 million F-16 security assistance to Pakistan. "This is a sustained program for F-16s that Pakistan has long had. These are not new, this is sustaining what they have. We've a responsibility and obligation to whomever we provide military equipment to, that it's ...

Sources said Pakistan Air Force intercepted the SpiceJet plane operating a Delhi-Kabul flight following a mix-up over its identity

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has repeatedly denounced US arms sales to the island

Configuration of any F-16 sale will be determined by govt-to-govt discussions, said an official

It is believed that there could be options for Pakistan to explore the possibility of procuring F-16s from the US at their full price

Analysts believe Islamabad could consider Russian or Chinese fighters to meet its defence requirements

Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Aziz spoke about India using the Pathankot attack against Pakistan in the US

She further said that it looks like the sale is in kind of a limbo right now

Administration has made case to Congress that it continue to support proposed sale of these eight F-16s to Pak to assist in Pak's counterterrorism, counterinsurgency operations

The statement comes as a Pakistani leader saoid that they would get the F-16 jets from other places, like China, if unable to get them from the US

American lawmakers openly told Obama administration that they feared Pak would be using these fighter jets against India and not against terrorists

Sources said that the May deadline for Pakistan US is based on "offer validity and (Lockheed's) production process" point of view

The move comes as some top American Senators have put a hold on use of the US tax payers' money for this purpose

They have also urged the Obama Administration to review its decision in this regard

Pakistani officials say that India's defence purchases also influence their search for matching technology

US' sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan has strongly been criticised by India and top American lawmakers