Three to tangle: The Pakistan factor should not undermine India’s close security ties with the U.S.

Source: The post is based on the article “Three to tangle: The Pakistan factor should not undermine India’s close security ties with the U.S.” published in The Hindu on 13^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Relevance: About India-US security ties.

News: Recently, the U.S. decided to refurbish the F-16 fighter fleet of Pakistan. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified a possible Foreign Military Sales worth $450 million for engine, electronic warfare upgrades and spares for Pakistan’s F-16s. The proposed sale does not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions. However, this might upset India-US security ties.

Why India is concerned about the US decision to refurbish F-16s?

The F-16 fighter fleet has been the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force since the early 1980s. It was upgraded and replenished periodically. The U.S. administration has maintained that since Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally, the defence partnership with Pakistan is a critical component of its global war on terror.

India continuously raised its concerns about the US decision to upgrade and provide more F-16s to Pakistan with U.S. interlocutors. This is because terrorism against India has been Pakistan’s state policy for decades. India’s apprehensions came true in February 2019. A day after the Balakot air strike conducted by the Indian Air Force, Pakistan deployed its F-16s to target Indian military bases close to the Line of Control.

Note: In 2016, the U.S. Congress stalled the Obama administration’s move to give more F-16 fighters to Pakistan.

About India-US security ties

India and the U.S. have committed to deepening defence and security cooperation.

India and the US have been skilfully managing their differences over Afghanistan, the crisis in Ukraine, and the threat of U.S. sanctions under its Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

What should be done to improve India-US security ties?

To stay in Afghanistan, the U.S. needed Pakistan; now to stay away from Afghanistan it needs Pakistan even more. But the US should recognise India’s concerns are immediate and real.

The U.S. rewarding Pakistan will take out accountability of Pakistan and continue terrorism as a state policy. India and the U.S. need to work together to ensure the spectacular gains made in bilateral ties are preserved and nourished.