India has raised serious concerns over the United States’ military support for Pakistan, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warning that sensitive American military technology supplied to Islamabad could eventually reach a third country.
The issue was raised during a bilateral meeting between Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, held in Cebu, Philippines, on October 28, 2026.
According to reports citing officials familiar with the discussions, Singh expressed India’s strong opposition to the American support and modernisation package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter aircraft fleet. He reportedly cautioned that advanced military technology transferred to Pakistan could potentially be passed on to another country, raising concerns over regional security and the protection of sensitive defence systems.
The warning comes amid Pakistan’s close military relationship with China and renewed defence engagement between Washington and Islamabad. However, officials did not publicly identify a specific third country in the reported warning. China was mentioned in media reports as a possible reference.
India Objects to Pakistan’s F-16 Support Package
A key issue during the meeting was the US programme to sustain and modernise Pakistan’s F-16 fighter aircraft.
The package reportedly includes upgrades and support for avionics, communication and identification systems, cryptographic equipment, mission-planning tools, spare parts, training and logistical services. Such systems are important for aircraft operations, communications and military coordination.
India’s concern is that providing advanced equipment and technical support to Pakistan could have implications beyond the immediate purpose of maintaining its fighter fleet.
According to reports, Rajnath Singh made it clear to his American counterpart that India strongly opposes the provision of an advanced fighter-aircraft support package to Pakistan under the F-16 programme.
The United States has previously justified military assistance to Pakistan in terms of maintaining its defence capabilities and addressing security requirements. India, however, has consistently raised concerns about the security implications of military cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in the context of cross-border terrorism and the regional balance of power.
The latest discussions have brought these concerns back into focus.
Why the Risk of Technology Transfer Matters
The transfer of sensitive military technology is a significant issue in international defence cooperation. Advanced avionics, encrypted communication systems and specialised military software can provide operational advantages to the countries that possess them.
If such technology is accessed by an unauthorised third party, it could potentially expose technical capabilities, operational procedures or sensitive system information.
India’s reported warning reflects concern that technology supplied to Pakistan might not remain exclusively within the intended user environment. Given Pakistan’s defence cooperation with China, the possibility of sensitive technology reaching another country has attracted particular attention.
However, the reported concern should be distinguished from a confirmed transfer. There is no publicly established evidence in these reports that the specific American technology covered by the latest package has already been transferred to a third country.
Terrorism Also Featured in the Discussions
The talks between Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth also covered the issue of terrorism.
According to reports, the Indian defence minister stressed that the international community must adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards countries that support, train or finance terrorist organisations.
India has repeatedly called on the international community to hold those responsible for supporting cross-border terrorism accountable. New Delhi has also maintained that security cooperation must take into account the threat posed by terrorist networks operating in the region.
During the meeting, Hegseth reportedly reaffirmed American support for India’s fight against cross-border terrorism.
The exchange highlighted an important aspect of India-US relations: while both countries are seeking to deepen defence cooperation, India continues to have concerns about Washington’s military engagement with Pakistan.
India and the US Review Defence Cooperation
Despite their differences over military support for Pakistan, the two sides also reviewed progress under the ten-year India-US Defence Framework.
According to official statements and media reports, discussions covered military-to-military exchanges, advanced defence technology, information sharing, maritime security and cooperation in defence manufacturing and supply chains.
Both countries have sought to strengthen their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, where maritime security and regional stability remain important shared interests.
The discussions also focused on expanding defence-industrial collaboration and improving operational coordination between the two militaries.
These areas of cooperation indicate that India and the United States continue to pursue a broader strategic partnership even as individual security issues remain points of discussion.
What Happens Next?
Rajnath Singh’s reported warning places the question of sensitive military technology at the centre of India’s concerns about US defence assistance to Pakistan.
For New Delhi, the issue is not limited to the maintenance of F-16 aircraft. It also involves the potential security consequences of transferring advanced military systems to a country that maintains close defence ties with China.
For Washington, the challenge is to manage its defence relationships in South Asia while addressing the security concerns raised by a key strategic partner.
The immediate outcome of the discussions will depend on how the United States responds to India’s concerns and how the two countries continue their defence dialogue.
The meeting has demonstrated that India intends to raise questions about military technology transfers directly with its American counterparts while continuing to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
The central message from New Delhi is clear: the transfer of sensitive military technology to Pakistan must be assessed not only in terms of the intended recipient but also in terms of the potential risks to regional security and the possibility of that technology reaching other countries.
