WASHINGTON — In a letter sent to former President Donald J. Trump on December 11, the Republic of Balochistan expressed deep concern over the recent U.S. military assistance package to Pakistan, which includes a $686 million F-16 sustainment and upgrade program. The letter urges President Trump to intervene and cancel the deal, arguing that the U.S.-supplied aircraft and weapons are being used against the Baloch people.
The letter, written on behalf of the 60 million Baloch citizens, underscores the decades of suffering endured by the Baloch community, including what the letter describes as “enforced disappearances, systematic extermination, and brutal occupation” by Pakistan. The Baloch claim that many of the weapons used against them, including the F-16 fighter jets, are “Made in the USA,” and they argue that the recent U.S. military aid package will only exacerbate this violence.
“The $686 million military package, if not revoked, will soon rain even greater terror upon a people who have never threatened the United States,” the letter states. The Baloch have long accused Pakistan’s military of using U.S. weapons to attack civilian areas in Balochistan, killing women, children, and Baloch political leaders. The letter highlights the long history of U.S. arms sales to Pakistan, pointing to the fact that American-made weapons have been used in campaigns against Baloch civilians.
The plea to President Trump also touches on a broader strategic concern, citing Pakistan’s controversial history with global terrorism. The Baloch argue that the Pakistani military and intelligence services (ISI) have repeatedly betrayed U.S. interests, including by hiding Osama bin Laden for years, and now reportedly support Iran and Turkey against U.S. allies like Israel.
“This is the same regime that has hidden Bin Laden, bled your soldiers in Afghanistan, and now aids those who vow to destroy the United States and Israel,” the letter asserts. The Baloch further warn that these U.S. weapons could be transferred to Iran and its proxies, undermining American interests in the Middle East.
The Balochistan letter draws attention to a 2012 U.S. Congressional hearing, where lawmakers from both parties condemned Pakistan’s human rights abuses in Balochistan and called for the Baloch people’s right to self-determination. At that time, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) publicly stated that “the people of Balochistan are being savagely oppressed,” and urged the U.S. government to support the Baloch right to independence.
With these concerns in mind, the Republic of Balochistan’s letter calls on President Trump to take immediate action:
- Suspend and permanently revoke the entire F-16 sustainment and upgrade package for Pakistan.
- Freeze all pending military financing to Pakistan until an independent review confirms none of it will be used against civilian populations in Balochistan.
- Launch a formal policy review that prioritizes U.S. long-term strategic interests and human rights in the region, over tactical arrangements with Pakistan.
The letter concludes by reminding President Trump of the moral clarity expressed by Congress in 2012, urging him to align U.S. foreign policy with American values and the protection of innocent civilians.
The Balochistan government’s plea comes amid heightened tensions in the region, where the Baloch people continue to call for independence and an end to what they describe as an unjust occupation by Pakistan.
While it is unclear whether President Trump will take action on the letter’s demands, the appeal has already sparked renewed debate in Washington over the U.S. approach to Pakistan and its human rights record.
