US State Department closely monitoring if Pakistan used F-16 against India

The US had asked Pakistan to give it adequate information for the use of F-16 fighter jets against India in violation of what it is called the end-user agreement and on Tuesday US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said that they "have seen those reports and we’re following that issue very closely." are during an aerial raid targeting Indian military posts in Kashmir following India’s anti-terror strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot. He also said, “I can’t confirm anything, but as a matter of policy, we don’t publicly comment on the contents of bilateral agreements that we've in this regard involving US defense technologies, nor communications that we've with other countries about that.”

R Palladino on use of F16 by Pakistan: I can’t confirm anything, but as a matter of policy, we don’t publicly comment on the contents of bilateral agreements that we've in this regard involving US defense technologies, nor communications that we've with other countries about that https://t.co/FBQV3ueIEA

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2019

During the misadventure, Indian Air Force jets shot down an F-16 fighter jet. However, Pakistan denied the Indian claims of using F-16 fighter jets and that one of its planes was shot down by Indian Air Force.

“We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information,” news agency PTI had on Saturday quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying when asked about report that Pakistan has violated end-user agreement with the United States in this week’s border clash with India.

Pakistan had acquired the F-16 fighter jets from US to ‘fight against terrorism’ in 2008. However, the country has long been using the assets acquired from the US against India.