Pakistan on Thursday said it would use the F-16 fighter jets provided by the United States in its war against militancy, a day after American lawmakers put a deal on hold saying they might be used against "India or other regional powers".

"F-16s provide precision strike capability to Pakistan's on-going campaign against militancy and have proven to be an effective platform during Operation Zarb-e-Azb (a joint military offensive conducted against various militant groups)," the Pakistani embassy in Washington said in a statement, as reported by PTI.

"The US Administration has stated it supports the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. This is in line with bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation that both sides have pursued in mutual benefit," the statement added.

The US lawmakers want the Barack Obama administration to clarify the underlying purpose of the deal and how this would be in the country's national interest. The eight- aircraft deal was worth $700 million (Rs 4,647 crore).