New Delhi: India has conveyed its “grave concern” to the United States over its decision to provide military assistance to Pakistan, days after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington.  External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the issue was taken up with the United States Ambassador in the national capital, on Thursday.


India has taken up the matter with the US envoy in Delhi and with the US government in Washington through the Indian Ambassador there.

"We have expressed grave concern over US military assistance to Pakistan. The US side has told us that the proposed sale does not indicate any change in the US policy of maintaining a freeze in military assistance to Pakistan," Kumar said.

Sources said the US envoy was called to South Block and a protest was lodged with him over the US decision to help Pakistan militarily.

Last week, the Pentagon notified the Congress of its decision to approve military sales worth USD 125 million that would result in the monitoring of the F-16 fighter jets of Pakistan.

The notification came days after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in White House.

He said the US has "publicly stated that the proposed sale is intended to enable the US to continue technical and logistics support services to assist in the oversight of the operations of F-16 aircraft in Pakistan's inventory".

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement last week: "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for Technical Security Team (TST) in continued support of the F-16 programme for an estimated cost of $125 million."

The Pentagon delivered the required certification notifying the Congress of this possible sale.

According to the statement, Pakistan had requested a continuation of technical support services in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 programme.

Pakistan has used F-16s against India, including in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike by India.

"The US side has told us that the proposed sale does not indicate any change in the US policy of maintaining a freeze in military assistance to Pakistan," Kumar said.

"US has publicly stated that the proposed sale is intended to enable the US to continue technical and logistics support services to assist in the oversight of the operations of F-16 aircraft in Pakistan's inventory," he added.

Pakistan had used the F-16 fighter jets against India in its retaliation to Balakot strikes in February.