India is growing increasingly wary of improving US-Pakistan ties following Washington\u2019s approval of a $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan\u2019s F-16 fighter jets, according to a report by Chinese media.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
According to the DSCA, the deal is intended to advance US foreign policy and national security objectives, modernise Pakistan\u2019s F-16 fleet, and address operational and flight safety issues. The refurbishment is expected to extend the aircraft\u2019s service life through 2040 while resolving critical safety concerns.<\/p>\n
SCMP reported that expanding defence and minerals cooperation between Islamabad and Washington has \u201cstirred anxiety\u201d in New Delhi, with the F-16 upgrade seen as a clear signal of warming US-Pakistan relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Another expert cited by SCMP argued that both China\u2019s and the United States\u2019 interests align with Pakistan\u2019s when it comes to \u201cconstraining India\u2019s quest for regional pre-eminence,\u201d adding that New Delhi has yet to come to terms with this \u201cuncomfortable truth.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
India is growing increasingly wary of improving US-Pakistan ties following Washington\u2019s approval of a $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan\u2019s 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 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,25,26,19],"tags":[81],"class_list":["post-50547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","category-pakistan","category-south-asia","category-tie-tech","tag-headline"],"yoast_head":"\n