India has formally objected to a $686 million United States sustainment and modernisation package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, raising the issue at high-level talks amid deepening India-US defence ties.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed New Delhi’s concerns to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, on 28 October 2026.
The package, notified to the US Congress by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in December 2025, is intended to extend the operational life of Pakistan’s Block-52 and mid-life upgrade F-16s through 2040.
Of the total value, roughly $37 million covers major defence equipment and about $649 million covers other hardware, software, and services.
Key elements include 92 Link-16 tactical data-link systems for secure real-time battlefield communication, cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, identification friend-or-foe systems, mission-planning tools, training, simulators, spare parts, and logistical support.
It also includes six inert Mk-82 500-pound bomb bodies for integration and testing. Lockheed Martin is the principal contractor.
The US has framed the sale as supporting counterterrorism interoperability with American and partner forces and addressing flight safety issues, while stating it will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
New Delhi views the upgrades differently. Indian officials have long argued that US support for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet enhances conventional capabilities that could be used against India, pointing to past instances such as the 2019 post-Balakot aerial engagement.
Singh also warned of the risk that sensitive American technology could reach third parties, given Pakistan’s close military cooperation with China.
He stressed the need for an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach toward countries that support, train, or fund terrorist organisations and cautioned against double standards on terrorism.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the 10-year India-US defence framework, technology sharing, co-production, and Indo-Pacific security. Hegseth reaffirmed US support for India’s counterterrorism efforts.
India’s position
“India is strictly opposed to the US providing advanced fighter jet support package related to the F-16 programme to Pakistan… US providing sensitive technologies to Pakistan could end up in a third country.”
— Sources quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in talks with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
> “The global community must maintain an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach towards nations that support, train or fund terrorist organisations.”
— Indian readout of the Singh-Hegseth meeting
United States’ position
“The sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations… [It] will maintain Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future threats by updating and refurbishing its Block-52 and Mid Life Upgrade F-16 fleet… [and] will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
— US Defence Security Cooperation Agency notification to Congress
The episode underscores the balancing act in US policy toward South Asia even as India-US defence cooperation expands. Pakistan has welcomed the package as a means to keep its F-16s operational into the next decade. Indian assessments continue to treat any capability enhancement of the platform as a security concern.
