NEW DELHI: The US govt has declined to provide specific answers on the fate of Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets during ‘Operation Sindoor‘.“We refer you to the govt of Pakistan to discuss its F-16s,” the US State Department said. According to an NDTV report, Washington maintains continuous oversight of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet through US contractors stationed in the country around the clock. These teams monitor the fighter jets’ use under detailed end-use agreements between Islamabad and Washington, which stipulate combat deployment conditions and form the basis for ongoing US maintenance support.The Technical Support Teams are contractually required to remain fully aware of the status of all Pakistan-operated F-16s at all times.The US state dept’s current stance contrasts with 2019, when two US defence officials told Foreign Policy magazine that all of Islamabad’s F-16s were accounted for after India claimed to have shot down one during the Balakot air strikes.India now believes Pakistan lost several F-16s during Operation Sindoor, either in IAF strikes on the ground or in aerial combat. IAF chief Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria said Saturday that Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield, which housed an F-16 hangar, was among the major targets attacked.