US F-16 Upgrade Deal with Pakistan Raises Alarm in India, Chinese Media Claims
India is growing increasingly wary of improving US-Pakistan ties following Washington’s approval of a $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, according to a report by Chinese media.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) said the decision by the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to greenlight the sale of advanced technology and support systems has heightened Indian concerns. The package includes Link-16 data systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, training, and extensive logistical support.
According to the DSCA, the deal is intended to advance US foreign policy and national security objectives, modernise Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, and address operational and flight safety issues. The refurbishment is expected to extend the aircraft’s service life through 2040 while resolving critical safety concerns.
SCMP reported that expanding defence and minerals cooperation between Islamabad and Washington has “stirred anxiety” in New Delhi, with the F-16 upgrade seen as a clear signal of warming US-Pakistan relations.
“The improved relationship between the US and Pakistan on the whole is a friction point in US-India relations, which are going through their own twists and turns,” Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, was quoted as saying.
The Chinese outlet also noted that strengthening ties between Washington and Islamabad were reflected in the rapport between Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump.
Another expert cited by SCMP argued that both China’s and the United States’ interests align with Pakistan’s when it comes to “constraining India’s quest for regional pre-eminence,” adding that New Delhi has yet to come to terms with this “uncomfortable truth.”
