US warned Pakistan about misuse of F-16s after February dogfight: Report

US State Department expressed concern over unauthorised movement of F-16s, missiles

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The Indian government has long held that Pakistan had used F-16 fighters in the dogfight with the Indian Air Force in February. Now, a US media outlet has reported the State Department officially reprimanded Pakistan for moving the aircraft to airbases without Washington's consent.

US News and World Report revealed on Wednesday that Andrea Thompson, who was under-secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, sent a letter to Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, head of the Pakistan Air Force, in August. The US publication notes the State Department letter “represents the first admission since February from the US of its concerns about how Pakistan used its fleet of F-16s in stark violation of the original terms of the sale”.

Pakistan began purchasing F-16 fighters in the early 1980s, with the first aircraft being handed over to the Pakistan Air Force in 1982. Additional purchases followed in the subsequent decades, with the Pakistani fleet of F-16 jets numbering 76, according to US News and World Report.

Among the rules that the US insisted on while supplying the F-16s were that the aircraft and their missiles be based at two airbases—Mushaf (in Sarghodha, Punjab) and Shahbaz (in Sindh).

The letter notes that “Pakistan had moved the F-16s and accompanying American-made missiles to unapproved forward operating bases in defiance of its agreement” with the US. The letter warns Pakistan that its action of shifting the F-16 fighters could risk these aircraft falling in hands of “malign actors”.

The State Department notes, “While we understand from you that these aircraft movements were done in support of national defense objectives... The U.S. government considers the relocation of aircraft to non-US government-authorised bases concerning and inconsistent with the F-16 Letter of Offer and Acceptance.” The letter argues that moving the F-16s could “subject sensitive US-technologies to diversion to or access by third parties”.

The mention of third parties appears to be a reference to China, Pakistan's main arms supplier.

US News and World Report states that the letter does not specifically refer to the February dogfight, but "serves as a direct response to US concerns about the F-16 use".

The State Department letter also expresses concern about access to US officials to inspect Pakistani airbases where the F-16 jets are stationed. The letter notes it had been four years since US officials “had been allowed to perform an assessment of the security vulnerabilities on the Pakistani bases”.

The Indian Air Force has held that Pakistan deployed its F-16s in the dogfight on February 27, with the aircraft firing AMRAAM missiles, at least one of which fell into Indian territory. The Indian Air Force also claimed to have shot down an F-16.

Pakistan had initially denied the claims, saying the F-16 was not involved in the operation. However, in April, the Pakistan military spokesperson alluded to the possible use of F-16s in the dogfight, claiming, “Whether it was F-16 or JF-17, which shot down 2 Indian aircraft is immaterial”.