The US government has released $397 million to support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, as part of a broader $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid. The funds are intended to monitor and maintain Pakistan’s use of US-made F-16 fighter jets, ensuring they are deployed for counterterrorism operations rather than against regional rival India, according to a congressional aide.
The decision is part of a selective aid unfreezing under the Trump administration’s foreign policy, which prioritized security-related programs while significantly cutting humanitarian assistance. The list of exemptions, reviewed by Reuters, revealed that while security and defense programs received major waivers, only a fraction of humanitarian aid was approved.
Security Aid Prioritized Over Humanitarian Relief
Of the $5.3 billion in released aid, more than $4.1 billion was allocated to security programs, managed mainly by the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. These funds support arms sales, military assistance, and counter-narcotics programs.
• $870 million was allocated for security programs in Taiwan
• $336 million was designated for modernizing Philippine security forces
• $21.5 million was assigned for Ukraine’s national police and border guards, including body armor and armored vehicles
In contrast, humanitarian aid received less than $100 million in exemptions, with:
• $78 million allocated for non-food humanitarian assistance in Gaza
• $56 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
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Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze and Exemptions
Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump imposed a 90-day pause on foreign aid, effectively halting funding for programs ranging from disaster relief to economic development. The freeze led to a scramble among US officials and international organizations to secure waivers for essential programs.
While security-related programs got the massive exemptions, USAID programs saw drastic cuts, with less than $100 million ratified, compared to an annual budget of $40 billion before the freeze. A State Department spokesperson did not provide a comment regarding the decision-making process.
Despite these cuts, $500 million was allocated for PEPFAR, the US global HIV/AIDS program, which had previously operated with a $6.5 billion annual budget.
Strategic consequences for Pakistan
The dispatch of $397 million for Pakistan’s F-16s highlights Washington’s continued military ties with Islamabad, despite past tensions over security cooperation and regional stability.
The funding is all guaranteeing that Pakistan’s fleet remains operational and compliant with US regulations, reinforcing the bilateral counterterrorism agenda.
This move signals a calculated shift in US foreign policy, balancing security interests while maintaining pressure on humanitarian programs—a reflection of Trump’s “America First” approach to international aid.