Washington, March 5: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday spoke to his American counterpart John Bolton. The two officials discussed the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, along with the security situation in the region following the Pulwama attack. The telephonic conversation comes days after Bolton dialled up Doval to support India's "right to self-defence".
The Indian officials have also shared evidence with United States embassy which proved that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) used the F-16 warplane in the dogfight against the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The US defence attaches were also presented with wrecked pieces of AIM-120 missile, which could only be used exclusively by the US' Lockheed Martin manufactured F-16.
NSA Ajit Doval talks to his American counterpart John Bolton on security situation in region after #Pulwama attack&India’s retaliation.India has also shown proof of Pakistan using F-16s to attack Indian planes and target. US defence attaches shown parts of AIM-120 missile. pic.twitter.com/1taZnAefcQ
— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2019
A section of military experts in India have claimed that the US may be apprehensive to accept the downing of an F-16 aircraft in the Indo-Pakistan dogfight -- considering that the warplane is among the most lucrative weapons being sold by the Lockheed Martin to the international community.
Meanwhile, Washington is constantly monitoring the security situation at Pakistan's eastern borders -- as Islamabad has warned of consequences on the US-Taliban peace deal if India launches an aggressive retaliation to the Pulwama attack.
Pitching for peace, US President Donald Trump has appealed India and Pakistan to resolve all the pending issues through dialogue. While speaking to the media last week on sidelines of the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam, Trump said he had "reasonably decent news" which could de-escalate the tensions in the subcontinent. Shortly after his statement, Islamabad decided to free captured IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2019 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).