Is Donald Trump playing double game with PM Modi? America helps Pakistan with millions of dollars to buy…, Shehbaz Sharif now plans to…

Donald Trump's administration has excluded 243 items from the freeze list, including USD 397 million in aid provided to Pakistan for F-16 fighter jets.

Washington: There has been growing concern about whether the US President, who offered India the F-35 stealth fighter jet, is playing a double game with Delhi. The concern arose after the United States provided significant assistance to Pakistan for its F-16 fighter jets. It was believed that in his second term, Donald Trump would halt the support given to maintain Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets. However, he has not done so. The US continues to fund Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets.

After taking the oath of office, Donald Trump suspended US foreign aid for 90 days. However, by the end of January, he reversed some of his decisions. He decided to resume military aid to Egypt and Israel, key US allies in the Middle East.

News agency Reuters reported that Donald Trump’s administration has excluded 243 items from the freeze list, including USD 397 million in aid provided to Pakistan for F-16 fighter jets. Reports further suggested that the United States will monitor these fighter jets to ensure they are used solely for counterterrorism operations and not against India.

The US has taken this step because its military sales agreement with Pakistan sets this specific limitation.

Trump’s Double Game Against India!

During his first term in 2018, Donald Trump had halted all military aid to Pakistan. However, initially, in his second term, he adopted the same strategy. At that time, Trump had repeatedly criticized Pakistan for harboring terrorist organizations. He even stated that Pakistan was not helping the US in the fight against terrorism. But his decision to release USD 397 million for Pakistan in his second term is quite surprising.

During his previous term, Trump had said, “Over the past 15 years, the U.S. has foolishly given more than $33 billion in aid to Pakistan, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit.” He further added, “They provide safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan… No more!”

But after becoming President, Joe Biden approved $450 million for the maintenance of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated in a statement that the maintenance program would help Pakistan in its counterterrorism operations while also ensuring that it does not impact the regional status quo.

At the time, India had strongly objected to the Biden administration’s decision, but U.S. officials attempted to allay India’s concerns by arguing that it was a military sale and not aid from the U.S. government. However, this time, the Donald Trump administration has provided direct military assistance, yet there has been no response from India.