US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday said the US has given F - 16 fighter jets to Pakistan to fight terrorism and it approved using them in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas where the Taliban have a strong foothold.
He also said the US takes "terrorism emanating from Pakistan very seriously".
India has expressed its concern over the US decision to sell eight F - 16s to Pakistan, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar conveying the government's concerns to Carter, who is presently visiting India.
At a joint press conference with Parrikar, on being asked if the US was trying to be a trusted ally of India while supplying the F - 16 fighters to Pakistan, Carter said: "We do try to be trusted partner of India. "
He said the US has given some unique technologies to India. "We don't have an agreement like that with other countries. "
Asked about the same issue, Parrikar said he did express his concerns to Carter, and the US defence secretary assured him the fighter jets would be used against terror.
Drawing a parallel with India's relations with Russia, Carter said the US values its relation with Pakistan.
"India also has relation with other countries like Russia. We respect that, " he said.
"What we do in Pakistan is directed towards counter terrorism. We too have suffered from terrorism emanating from the territory, more specifically Afghanistan, " Carter said.
"Pakistan has used F - 16 in operations in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). We have approved it. We take terrorism emanating from Pakistan very seriously, " Carter added.
The US in mid - February confirmed about supplying Pakistan eight F - 16 fighter aircraft worth $699. 04 million despite protests from India.
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