Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan on Friday strongly cautioned the US against exacerbating military imbalances in South Asia by supplying advanced military technologies to India, after President Donald Trump cosied up to Narendra Modi, offering to sell state-of-the-art fighter jets to New Delhi.
Firmly rejecting its mention in the US-India joint statement in the context of terrorism, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan termed the reference “one-sided” and “misleading”.
The statement, issued during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the United States on February 13, urged Pakistan to “expeditiously bring to justice” those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Pathankot incident, further calling that Pakistan’s soil not be used for cross-border terrorism.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing on Friday, Khan expressed Islamabad’s disapproval of the joint statement, stating: “We are surprised the reference has been added to the joint statement notwithstanding Pakistan’s counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States.”
“Pakistan also remains committed to continue with counter-terrorism efforts, address the issue of terrorism, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by foreign elements.
“We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the Indo-US joint statement of February 13, 2025, as one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms.”
Responding to the focus on terrorism incidents, the spokesperson criticised the statement for overlooking New Delhi’s human rights violations and its involvement in targeting dissidents abroad.
He stated, “Such references cannot conceal New Delhi’s role in sponsoring terrorism, subversion, and extrajudicial killings, nor can they divert global attention from the fact that India serves as a safe haven for those perpetrating hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities.”
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Khan reaffirmed Islamabad’s dedication to countering terrorism, stressing, “Pakistan would continue to contribute constructively to the regional and global efforts to advance peace and stability in the region. It remains dedicated to fully eradicating terrorism from its soil and bringing the fight to decisive end.”
Pakistan also reacted sharply to President Trump’s offer to supply state-of-the-art fighter jets to India, expressing serious concerns over the potential transfer of advanced military technology.
During a joint media appearance with Modi, Trump announced his administration’s readiness to sell F-35 stealth fighters, one of the most advanced military aircraft internationally.
If finalised, the agreement would make India part of an exclusive group of nations, including Nato allies, Israel, and Japan, authorised to purchase the F-35s, which is known for its stealth capabilities and supersonic speed.
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Currently, India operates an aging fleet of Russian fighter jets along with a limited number of French Rafale aircraft.
The FO spokesman Warned that such arms transfers exacerbate military imbalances in the region and threaten strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in achieving the objective of a lasting peace in South Asia.”
He urged international partners to take a balanced and objective approach to peace and security in South Asia and avoid one-sided positions that ignore ground realities.
