The United States said on Sunday it was trying to find out if Pakistan used US-built F-16 jets to down an Indian warplane, potentially in violation of US agreements. A Pakistan military spokesman on Wednesday denied Indian claims that Pakistan used F-16 jets.
The US Embassy in Islamabad said on Sunday it was looking into reports that Pakistan used F-16 jets to shoot down the Indian pilot, a potential violation of Washington's military sale agreements that limit how Pakistan can use the planes. "We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information," a US. Embassy spokesperson said. "We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously."
While Pakistan has denied using F-16 jets during a dogfight that downed an Indian Mig-21 warplane over Kashmir on Wednesday, it has not specified which planes it used, though it assembles Chinese-designed JF-17 fighter jets on its soil. Pakistan has a long history of buying US military hardware, especially in the years after 2001 when Islamabad was seen as a key partner in the US led War on Terror.
Pakistan bought several batches of F-16 planes, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, from Washington before relations soured and the United States cut off subsidised sales in 2016. It is not clear what exactly these so-called "end-user agreements" restrict Pakistan from doing. "The US Government does not comment on or confirm pending investigations of this nature," the US Embassy added.
On Thursday Indian officials displayed to reporters parts of what they claimed an "air-to-air missile" that can only be fired from F-16 jets. A Pakistan military spokesman told reporters on Wednesday that Pakistani jets "locked" on Indian targets to demonstrate Pakistan's capacity to strike back at India, but then chose to fire in an empty field where there would be no casualties.
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