US seeks information from Pakistan on potential misuse of F-16s
The US is seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential misuse of American-made F-16 fighter jets by it against India in violation of the end-user agreement, the State Department has said. The Indian Air Force on Thursday displayed parts of an AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets to attack Indian military.
Denying allegations, Pakistan says no F-16 fighter jets were used
Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir after India's anti-terror operation in Balakot. The country on Wednesday categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the Indian Air Force. The State Department said that they are seeking more information on the matter.
Cannot discuss specifics of end user-agreement contained within: Faulkner
"We're aware of these reports and are seeking more information," a State Department spokesperson said when asked about the report that Pakistan has violated end-user agreement with the US in this week's border clash with India. "Due to non-disclosure agreements in Foreign Military Sales contracts, we cannot discuss the specifics of end user-agreements contained within," Lt Col Kone Faulkner, a Defense Department spokesperson said.
US takes allegations of misuse of defense articles seriously
The US, which is the largest seller of high-tech defense-equipment globally, has a strong end-user monitoring agreement, and as a matter of practice takes all allegations of misuse of defense articles seriously. But before making any judgment, it needs to establish some facts on the ground, if there has been any violation by Pakistan to the F-16 end-user agreement it signed with the US.
US imposed a dozen restrictions on Pakistan over F-16 use
Publicly available documents reveal that US has imposed nearly a dozen restrictions on Pakistan related to its use of F-16. During a Congressional hearing on July 20, 2006, John Miller, the then Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, had told lawmakers that the United States has "very carefully considered" the potential risks of the diversion of US technology and equipment".
Security provisions include semi-annual inventories of all F-16 aircraft equipment
While the exact details of the restrictions were discussed in a closed-door session, and thus remains classified, Miller then broadly outlined some of the restrictions, which he said were over a "dozen new and unprecedented elements" of the security plan for Pakistan. Miller then told lawmakers that the security provisions also include semi-annual inventories of all F-16 aircraft equipment and munitions, including related technical-data
F-16 used in operations with third nations need US approval
The provision also included more frequent inventories for other systems. "There's a two-man rule, so to speak, for access to this equipment and restricted areas, and F-16 flights outside of Pakistan or participation in exercises and operations with third nations must be approved in advance by the United States government," the then top State Department official said, according to the transcripts of the hearing.
