New Delhi, 23 September 2022

As per news report of NDTV, the previous Trump administration had blocked the $450 million programme for maintenance of the F-16s, which Pakistan bought decades ago. On a question by reporters whether the F-16 upgrade and talk on US-Pakistan defence cooperation was a message to India for its neutrality on Russia, Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defence (Indo-Pacific Security Affairs), said: "Okay, so, no, absolutely not. The action on F-16s is not designed as a message to India as it relates to its relationship with Russia. The decision inside the US government around the F-16 issue was made, predicated on US interests associated with our defence partnership with Pakistan, which is primarily focused on counterterrorism and nuclear security."

Source - NDTV

Read More >>