The US Embassy in India on Friday issued a clarification in response to widespread media reports claiming that Washington was supplying advanced air-to-air missiles to Pakistan.
The embassy’s statement came after speculation that a recent contract update involved the delivery of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), potentially strengthening Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and shifting the regional balance of air power.
In its official press release, the embassy firmly denied these claims, stating that the contract in question pertains strictly to “sustainment and spares” and does not enhance Pakistan’s current military capabilities
“The Administration would like to emphasise that contrary to false media reports, no part of this referenced contract modification is for deliveries of new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Pakistan. The sustainment does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s current capabilities,” the statement read.
The clarification follows a standard Department of War contract announcement made on September 30, 2025, which included modifications to an existing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.
The contract outlined continued support — such as spare parts and maintenance — for multiple nations’ existing defense systems.
In a separate statement, the embassy made it clear that the earlier narratives misinterpreted or overstated the intent and scope of the contract modification.
The reports that sparked the controversy claimed that the US was supplying AMRAAM missiles to Pakistan as part of a strategic realignment, possibly influenced by improving bilateral relations and ongoing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
However, the embassy clarified that the contract is strictly for sustainment — support for systems already in use — and does not constitute the sale or delivery of new weapons.
The US embassy statement emerged as a rebuttal, clarifying that the contract is “sustainment” in nature, meant for supporting existing systems rather than enhancing them.
It is important to note that contract announcements like this one are standard practice in the US defence procurement.
The announcement includes updates, spare parts, and maintenance across multiple nations and is shared publicly to ensure transparency.
