US Drone Firm Signs Deal With Pakistan Army, India Watches Closely

NEW DELHI-The Pakistani Army has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US drone company Powerus, in a move that could expand Islamabad’s access to unmanned aerial technology and has raised concerns over the implications for regional security.

According to reports, the Pakistani Army signed the MoU with Powerus on September 16, with Pakistan’s Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, representing the Pakistani side.

The agreement includes an initial order for unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich.

PJ Media reported the agreement, citing Velicovich, who confirmed that the MoU includes an initial drone-related order.

The deal comes at a time when US-Pakistan defense cooperation has remained limited, making the agreement significant for its potential to expand Pakistan’s access to US-linked defense technology.

Pakistan had also signed an MoU earlier this year with SC Financial Technologies, an affiliate of World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency business associated with US President Donald Trump’s family, according to PJ Media. However, the Powerus agreement is directly related to defense technology and has drawn particular attention because of its potential military applications.

Although Washington has ceased supplying Islamabad with new weapons, it has continued modernization packages for previously delivered F-16 fighter jets. The latest drone agreement has therefore raised questions about the extent to which US-linked defense technology could become part of Pakistan’s military capabilities.

The development is particularly significant for India given the longstanding security tensions between the two countries and the growing use of drones in military and cross-border operations.

Pakistan’s military establishment has faced longstanding international criticism over allegations that it has provided support or safe haven to militant groups operating from its territory.

It has also been accused of providing refuge to UN-designated terrorist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and groups such as The Resistance Front (TRF), which India has linked to militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir last year, in which civilians were deliberately targeted on religious lines, further intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s alleged links to cross-border terrorism.

With Pakistan’s military and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) repeatedly coming under scrutiny over alleged support for regional militant groups, the prospect of expanded access to drone technology is likely to attract close attention in India and elsewhere in the region.

The Powerus agreement therefore comes against a backdrop of continuing concerns over Pakistan’s military capabilities and its alleged links to terrorist groups, making the development significant beyond the immediate US-Pakistan defense relationship. (IANS)