India’s recent demonstrative protest to the United States against the latter’s sale of eight more F-16 multi-role fighters to Pakistan is as unnecessary as it is excessive. Not only will the sale of these aircraft not alter India’s military balance with Pakistan, but it could also tantamount to India unwittingly hyphenating New Delhi with Islamabad, a cold war phenomenon that the Indian diplomat has worked hard to undo in recent years. While New Delhi may have valid reasons to question Washington’s rationale to supply these aircraft, yet the fact is Pakistan has been in possession of F-16s since 1983. Washington justifies the sale saying that these are ‘critical’ to Islamabad’s counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations which in turn are in the national interest of Pakistan, the US, Nato and the region as a whole as these operations will reduce the ability of militants to use Pakistani territory as a safe haven for terrorism and a base of support for insurgency in Afghanistan. New Delhi’s assertion is that these aircraft have limited value against fighting terrorists and is only expected to sharpen the Pakistani military prowess against India. Pakistani Air Force fighter aircraft have indeed been engaging militants in their hideouts in the tribal areas of Waziristan. However, it is difficult to quantify the success of these operations. There is also the criticism that Islamabad has been selective in targeting only the anti-Pakistani elements within the Taliban.But by expressing its disapproval, New Delhi can also be open to similar protests by Pakistan for its continued purchasing spree of high technology weapon systems and weapon platforms which has made it the world’s largest importer of defence equipment. India’s recent agreement to buy 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets from France is one case in point not to mention the long list of other defence equipment that New Delhi has purchased from Russia, the US and Israel. Rather than protesting too much, India should engage in quiet diplomacy and continue to build on its strategic partnership with the US while feeling free to arm itself from any source as per our defence requirement.