United States approves a $450 million F-16 fleet sustainment deal for Pakistan
On Wednesday, US Vice President Joe Biden gave $450 million in financial aid to Pakistan to maintain a squadron of F-16 fighter jets, overruling previous President Donald Trump's decision. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, this support is being supplied to Pakistan in order for it to deal with current and future counter-terrorism threats.
Trump discontinued aid to Pakistan in 2018.
Let me remind you that this is the most significant security aid provided to Pakistan in the last four years. In 2018, the Trump administration halted nearly $2 billion in financial aid to Pakistan. The US then declared that Islamabad was not a party to the war against terrorism.
Pakistan is recognized by the US as a counter-terrorism ally.
In a statement to the US Congress, the State Department announced that it has chosen to sanction a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Pakistan for the maintenance of F-16 fighter jets. "The United States government has alerted Congress of a prospective foreign military sale to save Pakistan's F-16 program," a State Department spokeswoman stated. Pakistan is a critical counter-terrorism partner.
"The F-16 program in Pakistan is an important component of the greater US-Pakistan bilateral engagement." Pakistan will be able to tackle current and future counterterrorism problems if its F-16 fleet remains operational. In response to a question, the official stated, "The F-16 fleet allows Pakistan to support counterterrorism activities, and we expect Pakistan to take advantage of this."
"The F-16 program in Pakistan is an important component of the greater US-Pakistan bilateral engagement." Pakistan will be able to tackle current and future counterterrorism problems if its F-16 fleet remains operational. In response to a question, the official stated, "The F-16 fleet enables Pakistan to support counterterrorism activities, and we anticipate Pakistan to continue to take action against all terrorist organizations."