US seeks information on possible misuse of F-16 jets by Pakistan against India

The United States is seeking more information on whether Pakistan misused American-made F-16 fighter jets against India in breach of an end-user agreement, the State Department has said.

The evidence and Pakistan’s denial

On Thursday the Indian Air Force displayed pieces of an AMRAAM beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, which it said proved that Pakistan had used US-made F-16s during an aerial attack aimed at Indian military installations in Kashmir. That attack followed India’s counter-terror strike in Balakot. On Wednesday, Pakistan had denied using any F-16s and rejected the claim that one of its aircraft had been shot down.

A State Department spokesperson said the US was aware of the reports and was seeking more information. Lt Col Kone Faulkner, a Defense Department spokesperson, said non-disclosure clauses in Foreign Military Sales contracts meant the specific end-user terms could not be discussed.

US restrictions on Pakistan’s F-16s

The US, the world’s largest seller of high-end defence equipment, has a strict end-use monitoring system and, as a matter of practice, takes allegations of misuse seriously. Before reaching any conclusion, however, it would need to establish the facts on the ground.

According to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the F-16s were supplied to improve Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. Public documents show the US has placed nearly a dozen restrictions on Pakistan’s use of the jets.

At a Congressional hearing on July 20, 2006, John Miller, then Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told lawmakers the US had carefully weighed the risk of its technology being diverted. The details were discussed in a closed session and remain classified, but Miller outlined some conditions in broad terms. They included twice-yearly inventories of all F-16 equipment and weapons, a two-person rule for access to the equipment and restricted areas, and advance US approval for any F-16 flights outside Pakistan or exercises with third countries.

Background

The Pulwama attack took place on 14 February 2019 and the Indian Air Force strike at Balakot on 26 February 2019.

See also: more news

Originally published on 2 March 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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