India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has criticized the Biden administration’s proposal to provide $450 million in spares and services for Pakistan’s F-16s, saying no one is fooled by claims that these highly capable fighter aircraft are designed only for counterterrorism.
In a separate note, the Minister left the door open for India to mediate in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Last week, Mexico proposed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that a committee of Heads of state and government, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis, could end the war.
An Indian External Affairs Minister’s first-ever public interaction with the Indian American community kicked off Jaishankar’s four-day visit to Washington DC. In a Q&A, he answered unscreened questions from the audience, which, it should be noted, was primarily made up of old and new fans. A moderator repeatedly called him a “rockstar” and his answers were greeted with multiple rounds of applause, with the most enthusiastic springing to their feet in excitement. It is most common for visiting External Affairs to conduct such Q&As at think-tank events with reporters and audiences.
As a long-time career diplomat, the Minister answered questions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Pakistan, education, health, and his own experiences.
“It is not a relationship that serves Pakistan well, nor does it serve American interests,” the Minister said in response to Indian-American concerns over the F-16 spare parts. Specifically, he argued that both Pakistan and the US have been mutually dysfunctional in their bilateral relationship.
Ultimately, the US should evaluate the value of this relationship today, Jaishankar said, asking what it wants out of the deal.
When someone says that they are doing this because it contains counterterrorism content, the Minister says, “When you talk about an aircraft like an F-16, everybody knows where it is deployed and what it is used for.” The Minister also noted that by saying these things, one is not fooling anyone.
In September, the Biden administration informed Congress that it proposed providing $450 million in spares and services for Pakistan’s F-16s made by US companies. A new capability or munitions are not included in the package, which, according to the statement, will also not alter regional military balances.
In the notification, the US administration claimed that these F-16s were intended for counterterrorism operations. But Pakistan has also used them for other purposes, most recently to engage Indian fighter jets in an air battle in February 2019. One of the F-16s deployed by India was later shot down by India.
Moreover, Jaishankar said, “I would really make the case (that) look what you are doing to an American policy-maker.
Take a look at the last 20 years, reflect on the history and forget about us.
Jaishankar will be able to share his advice with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, as well as other American policymakers he will meet over the next few days.
An official protest was lodged by Rajnath Singh with the US in a phone call with his counterpart Lloyd Austen, but doubts are evident within the Modi administration about the proposal.