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India summons US envoy over sale of F-16 to Pakistan  

By Web Desk
February 13, 2016

NEW DELHI: India has expressed disappointment with US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and summoned US ambassador to New Delhi on Saturday to convey its ‘displeasure’.

The US government said on Friday it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign arms sales, said it had notified lawmakers about the possible deal.

The agency said the F-16s would allow Pakistan's Air Force to operate in all-weather environments and at night, while improving its self-defense capability and bolstering its ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

India said it was disappointed with the US decision. "We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism," Vikas Swarup, a spokesman for India's Foreign Ministry, said on Twitter.

India media reported that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma to convey India’s “displeasure”.