Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is free to use the F-16s to defend Pakistan against any adversary

[YeBeWarned]

America should release the remaining 18 block 52 to Pakistan , a stronger conventional Pakistani forces can subside the nuclear option .

 

[Dubious]

WASHINGTON: The United States, while providing F-16 fighter jets to Islamabad, not only acknowledged the aircraft’s “deterrence value” to Pakistan in a future conflict with India but also noted that it could prevent a nuclear clash between the two neighbours.

Both points are specifically mentioned in a message the then US ambassador in Islamabad Anne Patterson sent to the State Department on April 24, 2008.

Also read: Foreign journalists find holes in Indian narrative on F-16 usage, Balakot strike

“An enhanced F-16 programme also has deterrence value by giving Pakistan time and space to employ a conventional, rather than nuclear, reaction in the event of a future conflict with India,” she wrote.

The quote is from a 20-paragraph communique that Ambassador Patterson sent to Washington in April 2008 and was disclosed by WikiLeaks.

The package she was referring to included 500 AIM-120-C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), which India claims Pakistan used against the Indian Air Force in last week’s combats over Kashmir.

On March 18, 2009, Ambassador Patterson sent another long message to Washington, which deals with Pakistan’s requests for more F-16s and India’s objections to the proposed sale.

“If our goal is to press the Army to change strategy and redeploy forces from the Indian border, punishing the Air Force by cancelling this sale will not help us,” wrote the ambassador while responding to India’s request to cancel the sale.

“It will emphasise that we favour maintaining Indian superiority at Pakistan’s expense and feed anti-Americanism throughout the military.”

In the same message she also explained why she believed the F-16s could avert a nuclear conflict in South Asia.

“To overcome overwhelming Indian military superiority, Pakistan developed both its nuclear/missile programme and its air power. F-16 aircraft, armed with AMRAAMS, essentially buy time to delay Pakistan considering the nuclear option in a conflict with India.” she wrote.

“Given India’s overwhelming military superiority, this would only be a few days, but these days would allow critical time to mediate and prevent nuclear conflict.”

Ambassador Patterson reminded policy makers in Washington that in 2008 India already enjoyed “an almost 2-1 advantage” over Pakistan in advanced multi-purpose fighters, when New Delhi had 736 aircraft while Pakistan had 370 only.

“Pakistan’s shortfalls in training and tactics multiply India’s edge,” she added.

Ambassador Patterson noted that Pakistan was also buying/jointly producing 150 JF-17 fighters from China, but it is unclear how they will pay for them.

“India plans to acquire 126 multi-purpose fighters (F-18 or equivalent) that will give (New Delhi) significant new technologies and further expand its air superiority over Pakistan,” she wrote.

Ambassador Patterson explained the new aircraft and 500 AMRAAM missiles would give Pakistan beyond visual range capability, but Pakistan will acquire the ability to employ this capability with either the new buy or MLU aircraft.

She argued that cancelling the proposed buy would only delay the process by 18 months while successful employment of this capability by the PAF would take 2-3 years and a significant revision of doctrine and tactics.

“The Indian Air Force already routinely trains on existing beyond visual range tactics. (If) we do deny Pakistan requests for arms sales that could upset the regional balance of power.”

In a scene-setter for the former army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s Feb 19, 2009, visit to Washington, the US Embassy in Islamabad informed Washington that he would raise the issue in his meetings with US officials.

“We are responding to Pakistan Air Force requests for Close Air Support training to improve the precision of F-16s they are using in Fata,” the embassy wrote.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2019

MERGING

Also read:

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/paki...defend-pakistan-against-any-adversary.605936/

 

[SABRE]

America should release the remaining 18 block 52 to Pakistan , a stronger conventional Pakistani forces can subside the nuclear option .

If we can come up with the money they'll sell them. All we need to do is bring the Block 52+ number to about 40 to 50 aircraft, & accumulate older Blocks from where ever possible. Bring the total number of F-16 to ~150. Get 500 more AMRAAMs. This will significantly boost our air power & strengthen the nuclear threshold. This would be an acquisition model similar to Mirage-III/V by PAF, only better.

 

[scionofPakwattan]

Hilarious. The events of the past few weeks have made it clear that it is the best advantage that we have.

Yes thats what I was thinking, practicing and training extensively doesnt provide you with an edge, I guess Pakistanis reach a better qualitative standard than their pilots with less training (if its true that indian airforce trains more extensively). that in turn proves that our training manuals and practices are better

 

[SQ8]

The entire article is based on letters written by a former ambassador expressing her personal opinion. This is a highly misleading piece designed to change public perceptions without committing anything officially. After reading this my suspicions about American hardware have increased further. @Oscar

I would ally your fears, there is no contract that prohibits us to use the F-16s as we wish.
New legislative measures may be introduced in the US congress through Indian lobbies but as such our spares and weapons stock is full and the F-16s will now serve out the remainder of their years as the last major US defence purchase we make.

 

[OCguy]

I would ally your fears, there is no contract that prohibits us to use the F-16s as we wish.
New legislative measures may be introduced in the US congress through Indian lobbies but as such our spares and weapons stock is full and the F-16s will now serve out the remainder of their years as the last major US defence purchase we make.

US hardware absolutely comes with an End User Agreement. What those terms are, we don't know. But it exists, and it would be agreed upon prior to delivery.

These agreements would never attempt to restrict defensive use, which appears to be the case here anyway.

Pakistan does the same thing. For example, they would make Sri Lanka sign an agreement that they are not to transfer any JF-17 technical secrets or technology to any Indian or US entities, or use them offensively against Pakistan or China.

 

[SQ8]

US hardware absolutely comes with an End User Agreement. What those terms are, we don't know. But it exists, and it would be agreed upon prior to delivery.

Exactly, and the EuA for Pakistan has no clauses in it except those relating to interactions with the Chinese.. extremely strict ones at that.

 

[OCguy]

Exactly, and the EuA for Pakistan has no clauses in it except those relating to interactions with the Chinese.. extremely strict ones at that.

The reason India guessed that a "no offensive use" clause towards them existed, is because we include the same thing in their contracts. It seems logical and reasonable to request that weapons aren't used offensively against other nuclear powers. I don't see it as disrespect to Pakistan, but that is just me.

 

[metalfalcon]

So there goes the indian complain to UNCLE SAM straight to the DUST BIN, Another diplomatic failure for india

 

[SQ8]

The reason India guessed that a "no offensive use" clause towards them existed, is because we include the same thing in their contracts. It seems logical and reasonable to request that weapons aren't used offensively against other nuclear powers. I don't see it as disrespect to Pakistan, but that is just me.

It’s possible, back during the first US Aid deliveries the clause was not to use the F-86s offensively against India since they were meant for the soviets.

But these rules are likely to be broken in the crisis of war since the line between offensive and defensive ops changes.

 

[blain2]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1468323/deal-allows-pakistan-to-use-f-16s-as-deterrence-against-india

Pakistan should raise this issue with France on the supply of Rafales to India. Our foreign ministry needs to pressure the French on the risks with the export of this aircraft to India as she may use them in an offensive capacity just like she has used the Mirage 2000s.

No harm in putting the French on the defensive just as the Indians are trying to do with the Americans on this F-16 issue.

 

[aziqbal]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1468323/deal-allows-pakistan-to-use-f-16s-as-deterrence-against-india

Pakistan should raise this issue with France on the supply of Rafales to India. Our foreign ministry needs to pressure the French on the risks with the export of this aircraft to India as she may use them in an offensive capacity just like she has used the Mirage 2000s.

No harm in putting the French on the defensive just as the Indians are trying to do with the Americans on this F-16 issue.

Indian have multi billion dollar deals with Americans, until recently what they said never mattered to US, money changes everything

Pakistan does not enjoy that advantage with France

 

[The Eagle]

However, we shall record protest on international forum for deliberate offset and imbalance in power in the region By way of Rafale or N subs to India. Even though, weapon supplier enjoys the war and threats but on other hand, diplomatic forces must lodge and bring it on record for future reference as if anything happens. Our stance should be based upon India's continuous violations and especially airspace aggressions. True that we do not enjoy the luxury like others with full pockets but it can be highlighted as our right same way India has been crying everywhere.

 

[Oruc]

Pakistan entitled to use F-16 fighter jet against any country: sources
Web Desk On Mar 18, 2019 Last Updated Mar 18, 2019

KARACHI: Diplomatic sources on Monday said Pakistan was entitled to use US-made F-16 fighter aircraft for its defence against any country, ARY News reported.

The sources said as per the deal with the United States, the country was not restricted to use the fighter jet against any country.

“Pakistan has not bought F-16 jets as a decoration piece,” they added.

The sources said the US had not contacted on alleged use of F-16 even after passage of three weeks of Pakistan’s striking down Indian aircrafts upon their violation of the Line of Control (LoC).

India had claimed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) used F-16 in the dogfight on February 27. While a CNN report had revealed earlier this month that JF-17 fighter jet of Pakistan shot down Indian warplane MiG 21 in Azad and Jammu Kashmir.

Read More: JF-17, not F-16, used to shoot down MiG 21: CNN report

The JF-17 is a Chinese-designed fighter jet produced jointly by Pakistan and China. The CNN report had said an American diplomat said Washington wanted to know if Pakistan used a US-built F-16 jet to shoot the plane.

“It may have been one of those jets that on Wednesday downed an Indian Air Force fighter plane, leading to the capture by Pakistan of an Indian pilot [Abhinandan Varthaman]” the CNN report had said.

The Indian fighter jet was a MiG-21, a Soviet-designed aircraft,which has been in use since the 1960s. The MiG-21 “forms the backbone” of the Indian Air Force, which has about 200 of those in its inventory, the report noted.


Some Interesting tickers.

 

[Path-Finder]

Translation; Foreign Office, The US has not contacted on the matter of the use of F16.

In yo face vedas.