America has presented its clarification regarding the financial assistance given for the maintenance of security equipment of Pakistan. In fact, India was being said to be unhappy with America’s help to Pakistan, on which the US has now clarified its side in this matter. US Assistant Secretary of Defense Eli Ratner has said that we have not provided financial assistance for the maintenance of F-16 to Pakistan with the intention of sending any message because of India’s ties with Russia.
On Thursday, in a virtual conversation with some media persons and intellectuals, Eli Ratner further said that the US government has taken this decision in view of US interests in defense partnership with Pakistan. The partnership between the two countries is focused on terrorism and nuclear security.
Eli Rattler further said that this is such an issue, on which we also involved our Indian counterparts and also informed them about the deal before the announcement. Rattler further said that he had also informed about this during his Delhi tour. Ratner said that he wanted to be as transparent as possible about this decision, which is why the information was given in advance.
Let us tell you that on 7 September, the Joe Biden administration had given a green signal to Pakistan for the maintenance of F-16 fighter jet and other security equipment (US-made) for $ 450 million in financial assistance. The US had said that under this program money has been given only for the maintenance of security equipment, it does not include any new weapons.
PM Modi praised for advice to Russia
At the same time, Eli Ratner also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to Russian President Vladimir Putin on stopping the war with Ukraine in a bilateral meeting during the SCO meeting. Eli Ratner said that we liked what PM Narendra Modi said to the Russian President.
Let us tell you that during the SCO meeting in Uzbekistan, when PM Modi while talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin said that this is not a period of war and everyone wants peace. On PM Modi’s talk, Putin had said that he also wants the war with Ukraine to end soon.
Softening of relations between Russia and India
Eli Ratner made it clear that because of the relations between India and Russia, Pakistan was not helped to put pressure on India. Among the relations that America has talked about, India and Russia have the most oil deals.
This deal between the two countries came at a time when there is a war between Ukraine and Russia in the world and many Western countries including America have imposed economic sanctions on Russia for not stopping the war. In such a situation, without any care, India made a deal of oil from Russia at a cheap price and the supply also started. The US also expressed displeasure over this and said that doing so by India would weaken the Western sanctions on Russia.
India said about America’s objection in this matter that India is fully capable of taking decisions in the interests of its countrymen. Whatever decision India takes, it does it keeping in view the interests of its people.
America wants to reduce India’s dependence on Russia
India and Russia have strong business ties in many regions. Especially there is a big trade between the two countries in the arms purchase and energy sector. In such a situation, America is now trying to reduce India’s dependence on Russia.
The US State Department has said that the US wants to help India in providing new options to reduce India’s dependence on Russia. America said that India is now heavily dependent on Russia, in the last 40 years India itself has increased its dependence on Russia. But India should understand that new markets also have good profit opportunities.
