The United States is trying to find out if Pakistan used American-built F-16 jets to down an Indian warplane this week in contravention of a military sale agreement.
Pakistan and India both carried out aerial bombing missions, including a clash on Wednesday that saw an Indian pilot shot down over the disputed region of Kashmir in an incident sparked fears of a war.
The US Embassy in Islamabad said on Sunday it was looking into reports that Pakistan used F-16 jets to shoot down the Indian pilot, a potential violation of Washington's sale deal that limits how Pakistan can use the planes.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Chaudhary Fawad Hussain, has not denied the use of the F-16 aircraft.
“We purchased them from America and didn’t get them in a grant. So we’ll decide where to deploy them. F-16 jets will be used for the purpose for which they are needed,” he told SBS Punjabi.
"Striking terrorists is a ground operation, F-16s are not needed for that."
A US Embassy spokesperson said they were looking into the reports and seeking more information.
F-16 fighter jet. Source: ANP
"We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously."
Pakistan has a long history of buying US military hardware, especially in the years after 2001 when Islamabad was seen as a key partner in the US-led War on Terror.
Pakistan bought several batches of F-16 planes, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, from Washington before relations soured and the United States cut off subsidised sales in 2016.
It is not clear what exactly these so-called "end-user agreements" restrict Pakistan from doing.
"The US Government does not comment on or confirm pending investigations of this nature," the US Embassy added.
