US F-35s join Indian drills near Pakistan border in first-ever India deployment

US F-35 stealth fighters participated in joint exercises with Indian warplanes near the Pakistan border, marking the first time the aircraft has operated in India. The move signals deepening US-India defense interoperability and a potential shift in regional military balance, though its operational scope remains limited. The development underscores India's growing strategic alignment with the US amid China's regional assertiveness.