The United States’ decision to approve a major upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter fleet has triggered criticism in India, with security analysts arguing that Washington is applying a double standard to nuclear-related policies.

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported (8-Nov-2026) on the that Indian security experts fear the US program to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets could bolster the country’s existing nuclear weapons capabilities.

The upgrade package, valued at approximately ₹5,900 Crores, is designed to modernise and sustain Pakistan’s existing F-16 fleet, extending its operational lifespan until around 2040. The project focuses on avionics improvements, encrypted communications systems, navigation equipment, software updates, logistics support and pilot training rather than the supply of new weapons.

Indian security experts have expressed concern because the F-16 has long been regarded as a potential platform for delivering Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. Since the 1990s, US intelligence assessments have reportedly concluded that Pakistan modified parts of its F-16 fleet to enable a nuclear delivery role.

Srinivasan Balakrishnan, an analyst at the India Researchers Forum in New Delhi, said: “This performance improvement does not provide Pakistan with a new nuclear bomb, but it is significant in that it extends and modernises the operational life of fighter jets, which have been evaluated as a means of transporting nuclear weapons.”

Balakrishnan further argued that India views Washington’s approach as inconsistent. “India sees this as a clear double standard.” He noted that while the United States continues to exert strong pressure on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it is simultaneously supporting the long-term sustainment of Pakistani aircraft that have historically been viewed as capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The Indian government has also formally raised the matter with Washington. During the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly discussed the issue with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and conveyed concerns about the possibility of sensitive military technology reaching third parties.

Washington has rejected suggestions that the package will alter the regional military balance. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency stated that the project is intended to support counter-terrorism cooperation and maintain interoperability between Pakistani and US forces.

According to the agency, the package is aimed at improving flight safety, operational readiness and long-term sustainment, and “will not change the basic military balance in the region.”

The approved package includes upgrades such as Link-16 tactical data link systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics modernisation, communications improvements and extensive technical support. US officials maintain that no new nuclear weapons, nuclear-specific equipment or dedicated nuclear delivery systems are included in the sale.

Some Indian military experts acknowledge that the modernisation effort does not directly expand Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. However, retired Indian Air Force commander Gurcharan Singh Bedi noted that enhancements to survivability, situational awareness, communications and navigation could improve the reliability of existing delivery methods during a crisis.

The issue comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions between India and Pakistan. F-16 aircraft were a subject of controversy during the military confrontation that followed the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.

The subsequent conflict lasted approximately 88 hours and reignited long-standing disputes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

During the fighting, India claimed that Pakistan deployed F-16 fighters and that some aircraft were shot down. Pakistan denied those claims, insisting that Chinese-built fighter aircraft were used for most combat operations.

The latest US decision highlights the delicate balance Washington seeks to maintain in South Asia. 

While defence cooperation between the United States and India has expanded significantly in recent years, American officials continue to argue that sustaining Pakistan’s F-16 fleet serves counter-terrorism and regional security objectives rather than altering the strategic balance between the two rivals.

Agencies