Pakistan Deploys F-16 Fighting Falcons Near India’s Border as Tensions Simmer

In the aftermath of air and land clashes between India and Pakistan, the Pakistani Air Force has deployed a squadron of its F-16 Fighting Falcons near the Indian border - according to Indian media reports. Unnamed officials were quoted by Indian media reporting on the F-16 deployment as part of a large military buildup in the region, stating:  "We have confirmed reports that Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 acquired from both U.S. and Jordan are on high alert all along Indian-Pakistani border from Hyderabad in Sindh to Skardu in Northern Areas. The Pakistani military’s deployment including radars and air defence systems along the Line of Control was strengthened immediately after the February 14 Pulwama attack as they expected Indian retaliation similar to that of the surgical strike.”

Engagements in late February saw Pakistan report the downing of two MiG-21 fighters, while India claimed to have downed a single F-16. The F-16  was first delivered to Pakistan in the early 1980s, and until the mid 2000s was the country’s only modern fighter jet. The aircraft has since been replaced by the JF-17 Thunder Block II as the service’s prime combat platform, though it continues to play a key role in the country’s air fleet. The vast majority of Fighting Falcons in Pakistan’s fleet are of the older and shorter ranged F-16A class, and deploying these platforms near the border provides an effective means of extending their reach into Indian territory without the need for aerial refuelling. A number of Pakistani reports have claimed that the A variant is in some ways preferable to the more modern C variant which was later acquired, due to its considerably lighter weight which makes it more manoeuvrable and a far better dogfighter. The F-16A is also compatible with advanced 105km range AIM-120C air to air missiles, some of which were recently recovered by India following their reported failure to neutralise Indian jets at range.

The Pakistani Air Force has yet to comment on Indian reports regarding the redeployment of the F-16, and whether this is intended as part of a broader shift in assets remains uncertain. On March 11th Islamabad again called for India to exercise caution against any misadventure - alluding to the possibility that Delhi’s ruling party could seek to do so in light of uncertainty regarding its performance in upcoming elections. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recently discussed the cross border situation with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and the American ambassador to Islamabad, with Bolton expressing appreciate for Pakistan’s measures to lower tensions. With tensions simmering, and continuing clashes on the ground at the border reported, the outcome of the current security crisis remains to be seen.