NEW DELHI, March 25: US President George W. Bush telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday to convey the US Administration’s decision to supply F-16 warplanes to Pakistan, the Press Trust of India said. It quoted the Indian prime minister’s media adviser Sanjaya Baru as saying that Dr Singh responded by conveying India’s “great disappointment” on the move. “The prime minister received a telephone call from the US President this evening. They had 15 minutes of wide-ranging conversation,” Dr Baru was quoted as saying.

“The US president, among other things, spoke about his administration’s decision to propose the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan.”

Dr Baru said the Indian prime minister expressed India’s “great disappointment at this decision,” pointing out that it could have “negative consequences for India’s security environment,” according to PTI.

Washington’s decision has come despite India’s relentless opposition to the supply of the nuclear-capable multi-role fighters. New Delhi claims that arming Pakistan with the advanced warplanes would hamper the military balance in South Asia.