F-16 jets can only Used against Terrorists? PAK-US F-16 End-user Agreement

F-16 jets were meant to be used to “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations”.

The USA has sought information from Pakistan whether it used F-16 aircraft against India.

This comes after India showed parts of an AMRAAM missile that can be fired only from F-16s among the fleet of aircraft in Pakistan air force.

India also pointed out that the reason for Pakistan’s denials of using F-16 was that it amounted to a violation of end-user agreement that lays down that Pakistan can use it only in self-defence or against terrorists.

The US today (Saturday, March 2) sought more information on the matter. “We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information on the potential misuse of American-made F-16 fighter jets by Pakistan against India in violation of the end-user agreement,” PTI quoted US State Department as saying.

Also Read: JeM camp was hit, no. of kills speculative, says a Military report; foreign media questions claims

“Due to non-disclosure agreements in Foreign Military Sales contracts, we cannot discuss the specifics of end user-agreements contained within,” Lt Col Kone Faulkner, a Defense Department spokesperson told PTI.

On Thursday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) displayed parts of an AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile as evidence that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir after India’s anti-terror operation in Balakot.

Pakistan on Wednesday categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF.

The United States, which is the largest seller of high-tech defence equipment globally, and has a strong end-user monitoring agreement, as a matter of practice takes all allegations of misuse of defense articles very seriously.

Also Read: Anupam Kher, Anushka Sharma, Mohanlal among others lauds IAF pilot Abhinandan’s return

According to Pentagon’s Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) F-16 jets were meant to be used to “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations”.

Publicly available documents reveal that US has imposed nearly a dozen restriction on Pakistan related to its use of F-16, said a report on news portal The Print.

During a Congressional hearing on July 20, 2006, John Miller the then Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, had told lawmakers that the United States has “very carefully considered” the potential risks of the diversion of US technology and equipment.”

While the exact details of the restrictions were discussed in a closed-door session, and thus remains classified, Miller then broadly outlined some of the restrictions, which he said were over a “dozen new and unprecedented elements” of the security plan for Pakistan.

Miller then told lawmakers that the security provisions also include semi-annual inventories of all F-16 aircraft equipment and munitions, including related technical data, and more frequent inventories for other systems.

“There is a two-man rule, so to speak, for access to this equipment and restricted areas, and F-16 flights outside of Pakistan or participation in exercises and operations with third nations must be approved in advance by the United States government,” the then top State Department official said, according to the transcripts of the hearing.