US Senator Abdul El-Sayed Calls for Ban on Unconditional Military Aid to Pakistan

Newly elected US Senator Abdul El-Sayed has said he wants to end unconditional American military aid to Pakistan and to every other country that currently receives it, according to remarks reported from a public event in Michigan.

El-Sayed made the comments during a "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall alongside Senator Bernie Sanders at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor on October 26. The Michigan Democrat defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the November 3 midterm election and became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

"Right now, they're getting bombs and tanks and unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban unconditional foreign military aid," El-Sayed said, listing Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar among the recipients he would target. He added that he does not pay taxes so that other countries can receive weapons, but so that American children can attend good schools.

El-Sayed has said he would apply the same standard to every country rather than singling out Israel, and argues that US tax dollars should go toward schools and healthcare at home instead of weapons for foreign governments.

The remarks are significant for Islamabad because Pakistan has long received US financing and military equipment, and has previously asked Washington to restore assistance after earlier suspensions.

A single senator cannot ban aid unilaterally, but El-Sayed will vote on foreign aid legislation and can push to attach conditions or block unconditional assistance as an incoming member of the chamber.