New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) India has not changed its position vis-a-vis Pakistan's use of F-16 jet fighter
and the US has been flagged off on the matter, MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said here on Thursday.
"I will not get into how and under what circumstances Pakistan used F-16...I don't think we have changed our position that Pakistan has used F-16 (during February 27 dogfight)," Mr Kumar told reporters answering questions.
But, he said, the details of matter on whether and under what circumstances use of F-16 by Pakistan is allowed or not, falls within the jurisdiction of Pakistan and the United States.
He said New Delhi believes F-16 was 'used' and perhaps it was also done not in accordance with 'understanding' between Pakistan and the US. "That is why we have flagged in to the US," he said.
Last month, the United States has said that Washington is taking a close look at the reports of Pakistan having violated the end-user agreement on F-16.
"We are taking a look and we are going to continue to take a look," US State Department Deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters at his regular news conference on March 6.
“We’ve seen those reports and we are following that issue very closely,” he said amid Indian officials suggesting that a dossier on Pakistan's misadventure on February 27 abusing F-16 jet fighter have been provided with the United States.
Commenting on the development on the issue, a source in Delhi has also said: "We must give the US some time, they must be conducting the investigation on whether Pakistan used F-16".
Things like serial number, the name of the company .....everything is with the US, sources said.
"The fact that Pakistan has to resort to tactics and alleging that the missile came from a Taiwanese inventory and the Taiwan government clearly putting a denial simply indicate the desperation that Pakistan is facing," the source said in Delhi.
Meanwhile, answering questions on whether Pakistan has responded to India's questions on Kartarpur Corridor when Wagah talks were delayed, MEA spokesman said, New Delhi is yet to get response from Islamabad.
India on March 29 virtually caught Pakistan by surprise and summoned its deputy envoy in Delhi to raise protests over Khalistani presence in the Pakistani panel on Kartarpur and therefore deferred April 2 meet on the Corridor at Wagah.
Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs and India's position was explained.
"We told Pakistan categorically that while we are very keen to bring these discussions on the modalities, we need clarifications," the source said.
UNI DEVN RSA 1940