India and the US have reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing defence cooperation

During a phone call with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed India's concerns about the US plan to provide Pakistan with an F-16 sustenance package. It was India's first high-level objection.

After the discussion, Singh tweeted, "I conveyed India’s concern at the recent US decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. Look forward to continuing dialogue with Secretary Austin to further consolidate India-US partnership."

In addition to this, the two ministers also discussed the extensive defence cooperation between India and the US and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing these relations as per a press release from the Ministry of Defence. They also spoke about regional issues and reaffirmed their common commitment to preserving peace and stability throughout the area and beyond.

The press release said that Secretary Austin voiced support for India's goal of modernizing its military and looked forward to further enhancing defense industrial and technological cooperation between the US and India.

Later, the two ministers reaffirmed that both parties will continue to have fruitful interactions with the goal of strengthening India's strategic partnership with the United States. Additionally, Rajnath Singh expressed his eagerness to welcome Secretary Austin to India for the next Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue in 2023.

According to some media reports, Indian officials had also voiced their worries to US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu at a meeting last week. India had then objected to a US plan for $450 million in Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for hardware, software, and replacement parts for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet program, the reports had said.