Washington/New Delhi: The US has decided to sell eight F-16 combat jets to Pakistan to “support (its) counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations”, prompting India to summon American ambassador Richard Verma to lodge its strong protest against the move.

“We are disappointed at the decision of the (Barack) Obama administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement in New Delhi. “We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help combat terrorism. The record of the last many years in this regard speaks for itself,” it added.