US-Pak missile deal: Cong calls it 'diplomatic setback'; takes shot at Centre

NEW DELHI: Congress person Jairam Ramesh connected Wednesday criticized the BJP-led cardinal authorities aft Pakistan was included successful a caller US Department of War notification for the proviso of Raytheon's AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).In a station connected X, highlighting the shift, Ramesh said, “How rapidly the diplomatic clime changes, and however rapidly diplomatic setbacks accumulate!”

The Congress General Secretary successful complaint of Communications besides shared 2 nationalist notifications issued by the US Department of War: 1 dated May 7 and different connected September 30.He highlighted that the notification issued connected September 30 added Pakistan to the database of countries acceptable to person Raytheon’s air-to-air missiles.Ramesh observed that according to the May 7 notification, Raytheon's missiles were scheduled to beryllium supplied to Canada, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Kuwait, Japan, Finland, Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Spain and Lithuania.With a peculiar accent connected Pakistan, helium added: "However, the US Department of War's nationalist notification connected subject contracts awarded connected Sept 30, 2025, includes countries similar Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey and Pakistan for the proviso of the Raytheon air-to-air missiles."

The latest modification awards Raytheon an further $41 million, raising the full declaration worth for accumulation of the AIM-120 C8 and D3 variants to $2.51 billion.Also Read | US-Pakistan deal: Islamabad to person AIM-120 missiles compatible with its F-16s; utilized successful retaliation to Balakot strikesAccording to the US Department of War, the enactment volition beryllium performed astatine Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to beryllium completed by May 30, 2030.Dawn reported that the missiles are expected to beryllium deployed connected Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighters. The rocket was reportedly utilized by the Pakistan Air Force during aerial engagements that followed the Balakot aerial strikes successful 2019.