New Delhi: After a request made by India, the United States has agreed to look into and examine the recent use of American-made defence platforms by Pakistan against India, government sources said on Saturday.
Sources said the US is expected to soon make a public clarification on the matter.
This is apparently a reference to a recent request by India which had asked the United States to examine whether the use of F16 fighter aircraft against India by Pakistan is in accordance with the terms and conditions of sale by the US to Pakistan.
It may be recalled that during the dogfight between fighter aircraft of the Indian and Pakistani Air Force on February 27, the PAF had used F-16s equipped with missiles against the IAF.
The US assurance was furnished during the recent three-day official visit of Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale from March 11 to 13 for “the bilateral Foreign Office Consultat-ion and Strategic Security Dialogue” that took place between the two countries.
Government sources also said that in response to queries from certain members of the US Congress, India had made clear that it intended to only lease a nuclear-powered submarine with conventional weapons from Russia and that this did not constitute an acquisition from that country.
Sources said these members of the United States Congress were subsequently satisfied with the Indian response.
It may be recalled that the United States is imposing sanctions on countries that acquire weaponry and defence platforms from Russia.
