In order to support Pakistan's national security goals, the US has authorized the sale of defense products and services totaling $686 million to Pakistan for its fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
This includes $37 million worth of defense equipment as well as $649 million worth of additional equipment, including missile adaptor units, software upgrades, mission-planning systems, secure communication devices, identification systems, and various electronic security modules.
In a letter dated December 8, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Congress of the defense agreement with Pakistan, initiating a 30-day review period.
The sale of defense services and equipment is "aimed at supporting the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US," according to the official statement.
In ongoing counterterrorism activities and in anticipation of future contingency operations, the agreement permits Pakistan to maintain interoperability with U.S. and partner troops.
92 Link-16 systems and six Mk-82 inert 500-pound general-purpose bombs are included in the defense equipment transaction.
By modernizing and renovating its fleet of Block-52 and Mid Life Upgrade F-16s, the proposed sale is intended to preserve Pakistan's ability to counter present and future threats.
"These updates will provide more seamless integration and interoperability between the Pakistan Air Force and the U.S. Air Force in combat operations, exercises, and training, and refurbishment will extend the aircraft life through 2040 while addressing critical flight safety concerns," said the statement.
Pakistan has demonstrated a commitment to sustaining its armed forces and will have no trouble integrating these goods and services into its armed forces, according to the Congress study.
The two nations have reached an agreement under the F-16 Cryptographic Mandate Compliance and Service Life Extension Program.
The notification must be authorized or rejected within 30 days, after which it will be considered approved. The major contractor in this transaction is Lockheed Martin Company.
One of the main obstacles to India-US relations, according to an official on Wednesday, is Washington's enhanced involvement with Pakistan's military leadership.
"The United States renewed engagement with Pakistan's military leadership is the second challenge in India," stated Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America.
Pakistan's use of non-state terrorist proxies against India has a lengthy and well-documented history. According to India's long-standing experience, Pakistan's adventurism has frequently benefited from third-party mediation.
Therefore, the United States has engaged with both India and Pakistan while minimizing its engagement in their problems as part of a de-hyphenation policy.
If the United States and India are able to effectively resolve their disputes over trade and Pakistan, there is still much room for future cooperation.
The US and Pakistan have previously engaged in various forms of manufacturing and industrial support, so the $686 million defense contract is not the first.
The largest economy in the world announced on Wednesday that the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has approved $1.25 billion in funding to support the development of the Reko Diq critical minerals project, which will increase mining activities in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
The US administration has deemed such agreements essential to US diplomacy, according to Natalie A. Baker, Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Islamabad, who shared the revelation on X.
"I'm pleased to highlight that the US Export-Import Bank recently approved financing of USD 1.25 billion to support the mining of critical minerals at Reko Diq in Pakistan," Natalie Baker said.
She added that EXIM's funding, in years to come, will allow "up to $2 billion in high-quality US mining equipment and services needed to build and operate the Reko Diq mine, along with creating an estimated 6,000 jobs in the US and 7,500 jobs in Balochistan, Pakistan."
Baker described Reko Diq as an example of a mining operation that will help "US exporters, as well as local Pakistani communities and partners, by bringing employment and prosperity to both our nations."
In addition, she emphasized that "the Trump administration has made the forging of deals exactly like this one central to American diplomacy." The two nations anticipate more deals in the mining and key minerals sectors.
In a brief statement on X, the US Embassy in Islamabad stated that the new pledge "will drive economic growth in Balochistan." The Embassy wrote, "The US-Pakistan partnership will drive economic growth in Balochistan with a new commitment of USD 1.25 billion in EXIM Bank financing."
It encouraged viewers to watch Baker's message, which described the project as a "game-changer for US businesses and local Pakistani communities."
The development of Pakistan's oil reserves is the main subject of a different trade effort that US President Donald Trump unveiled in July of this year.
"We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The selection of the oil company to spearhead this partnership is now underway. Perhaps one day they will sell oil to India.
