Feared over sale of eight (8) Lockheed Martin F-16 Block-52 fighters with increased performance engines to Pakistan by the United States, India summoned United States ambassador Richard Rahul Verma to bear its disappointment and displeasure.
The proposed sale includes aircrafts, C (2) and D (6) models along with training, technical and logistics supports and supply of radar and electronic warfare equipment for an estimated cost of $699.04 million, according to Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) news release on Feb 12.
“This proposed sale contributes to U.S. foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia.”
These fighter planes are capable to operate in all-weather, non-daylight environments and “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter terrorism operations and to meet current and future security threats”.
Responding to the proposed sale, the external affairs ministry of India said in a statement that they disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help combat terrorism.
In a tweet on social media, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said "We are disappointed at the decision of the Obama Administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan”.
However Pentagon Press Secretary in a Department of Defense briefing on Feb 16 declined India’s concerns “This sale always took into account the regional security situation. We look at our relationship with Pakistan and our relationship with India as separate relationships. And we think this is important capabilities for the Pakistanis to go after terrorists in that country. And as a result, we don't think it should cause concern for India.
“This is a situation -- we think this is a capability that will help Pakistan in its counter-terrorism effort and we think that's in the national security interests of the United States.”
However India is yet unable to absorb this proposed sale and has decided to pile up pressure on Washington to stop the deal. Indian Defense Minister in a television interview feeling hurt termed the sale a “down” in US-India relationship.
Business Standard sources in Ministry of Defense, India say “the US proposal to establish an F-16 production line in India has been dead for some time now. The Pakistan sale only hammers a final nail into that proposal's coffin” despite The Times of India report that Lockheed Martin is ready to manufacture F-16 in India and support the talks between the two countries under “Make in India” flagship.
Now the question is why India is in state of such dismay? Is it some kind of grudges, envy, rivalry or a blend of these all?
Well already unnerved by Pak-China deep relations, now Russia has also been warming up to its cold war foe, Pakistan while India is tilting towards United States in the past couple of years.
In 2014, Russia lifted embargo of arms exports to Pakistan and latter signed MoUs for supply of Mi-35 helicopter and for construction of 1,100 kilometers of LNG pipeline valuing over $2 billion. President Putin is expected to visit Pakistan to ink this ice-breaking LNG deal.
At the same time, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being processed on priority basis strengthening both countries’ relation to deepest and meanwhile the United States Okays F-16 sale to Pakistan.
Going through the growing pressure, thanks to Gen. Raheel Sharif upright stance on both terrorism and foreign issues, India is trying to be proactive to undermine the increasing Pakistan’s relations with the world to erase the embarrassment.
According to SIPRI, India is the largest importer of major weapons in the world with a share of 15% in international arms imports for 2010-14. Russia (70%), United States (12%) and Israel (7%) have been their major suppliers for this period. And in 2015, India signed a $3 billion deal with the United States for 22-Appache and 15-Chinook helicopters.
India has estimated defense expenditure of $40.4 billion for 2015-2016 which is 7.7% increase over previous year. Another amount f $10.3 billion was reserved for Ministry of Defense for defense pensions and civil expenditures including which the total defense budget rises to whooping $50.7 billion.
According to a report in Catch News, arms purchases for a value of $60 billion have been cleared since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. The PM also intended to spend $150 billion to modernize the military by spending $150 billion by 2027.
However the dream “Make in India” is continually tainted as Indian ordinance factories has earned a paltry foreign exchange of $10 million by selling arms during 2011 and 2014; equals the amount allocated for research and development for the organization.
This all-embracing facts feature that India is lacking the valid arguments to futilely show any sorts of concerns or fears over the proposed sale of F-16 to Pakistan since it would actually benefit India as well in the long run to exterminate the terrorism from the region.