US seeks information on violation of F-16 agreement with Pak to attack Indian planes

The United States is "seeking information" on whether Pakistan used U.S.-built F-16 jets to down an Indian warplane, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said on Sunday, which may violate the F-16 sale agreements between Washington and Pakistan. Pakistan says it did not use F-16s in shooting down an Indian warplane when it crossed the Line of Control that acts as a de facto border in Kashmir. Islamabad says this was an act of self-defence.

"We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information," a U.S. Embassy spokesperson told Reuters. "We take all allegations of misuse of defence articles very seriously." The U.S. often inserts restrictions on how its exported military hardware can be used through so-called end-user agreements.