(Image source from: usnews.com)

A high level American diplomat has reportedly sent a letter addressed to the chief of the Pakistan Air Force charging them with the misuse and misconduct with the F16 jets against India that were then supplied by USA on February 2019.

In the report that was published by the USNews.com, the documents suggest saying that the US diplomat has vehemently accused Pakistan of playing around with the security of both the nations. The letter, as the reports suggest, was written by Andrea Thompson, the then-undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.

The letter clarifies the direct concerns of the US against the misuse of the F16 jets used in the air combat with India back in February. The same was due to the fact that Pakistan is bound by law when it comes to the use of these F-16 jets.

The day when Pakistan acquired the F-16 jets from the USA, they also signed an end-use monitoring agreement stating that the country was only allowed to use the F-16 jets to defend themselves against wars or situations of terror. The thing that weren’t allowed to do was make use of these jets to later escalate any form of aggression against other nations.

The said letter was addressed to the Pakistan Air Force’s Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan wherein it was mentioned that Pakistan had moved the F16 jets and leading these American made missiles to “unapproved forward operating bases” which was against the agreement that they signed with the US.

The report further warned the Pakistan Air Force  of their act involved in the relocation, maintenance and allocation of the F-16 jets. The reason why the usage of the F16 jets came into the foreground was when the Indian Air Force presented the remains of the AMRAAM missiles in a press conference back in February. These missiles can only be carried in the F16 jets, hence showcases that the Pakistani Air Force indeed made use of those jets while attacking.

Additionally, Indian pilot Abhinandan’s Varthaman Mig 21 was also successful in shooting down the F16 jet. It was then that US charged Pakistan to provide them with a report over the usage of the same.

In the reports suggest, Pakistan had denied the usage of the F16 jets during the fight. But, the IndianAiur Force was a step ahead in providing an evidence with the remaining parts of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile that was used to target and attack the Indian military bases. The pieces of the missile were extracted from areas near Rajouri.

The attack back in February 2019 when Pakistan jets entered into the Indian airspace following the airstrike that was conducted by the Indian Air Force on the JeM camps located in Balakot. In order to save their face from further allegations, Pakistan stated that the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile that were found in Rajouri were purchased by them from Taiwan, to which the Taiwan Air Force has denied all such claims.

By Somapika Dutta