NEW DELHI: India has signed a $7.4 deal with France to procure 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan after a shooting incident in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
At least 26 people were killed and 17 others were injured after gunmen opened fire on visitors in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
India, without providing any evidence, blamed Pakistan for the attack, while Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement in the incident.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an independent investigation into the incident.
India’s defence ministry said the multi-billion-dollar deal would include both single and twin-seat planes.
The deal has exposed India’s aggressive policy in the region as according to a New York Times report Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aggressively seeking international support to justify possible military action against Pakistan.
Upon delivery, the jets will be added to the 36 French-made Rafale fighters already acquired by New Delhi.
India initially announced plans to purchase 26 additional Rafales in 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France for the Bastille Day celebrations.
The jets made by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation would replace the ageing Russian MiG-29K jets.
“The Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in a maritime environment.
The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India,” the statement by the Indian Ministry of Defence said.
On Wednesday, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic relations, and cancelled visas issued to Pakistani nationals.
In response, Pakistan on Thursday expelled Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian citizens—except for Sikh pilgrims—and closed its side of the main land border crossing.
Islamabad also warned that any attempt by India to stop or divert the Indus River waters would be considered an “act of war”.
According to reports, the prospect of a volatile confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours is growing.
