“USING OUR MONEY TO VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW” — First Muslim US Senator-Elect Abdul El-Sayed Questions US Aid To Pakistan, Says Taxpayers Should Not Fund Foreign Militaries
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WHO IS ABDUL EL-SAYED?
Age: 42
Party: Democrat, Michigan
Background:Doctor, Former Public Health Official, Former Detroit Health Director
Family: Egyptian-American, family immigrated from Egypt
History Made: First Muslim ever elected to US Senate in 250 years of US history
Election: Defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate election on Nov 3, 2026 Seat was vacated by Democrat Gary Peters who did not seek re-election
Will Take Office: January 2027
WHAT DID HE SAY EXACTLY?
He gave two interviews after winning — to NPR and ABC where he laid out his foreign policy.
On Pakistan & Others:
"How do we make sure that we’re holding ourselves accountable to international law? And it’s not just about Israel. I take the same approach to Egypt, where my family immigrated from. I take the same approach to Pakistan and to Jordan."
"When we are giving money to a country that is using our money to violate international law, that seems to me a good place to start."
"Whether it’s Israel or Egypt or Saudi Arabia or Jordan or Pakistan, I don’t think any of us pay our tax dollars to subsidise foreign militaries."
On America First At Home:
"We don't need and deserve more war, more bombs for foreign governments. What we need and deserve is good healthcare and good childcare, functional infrastructure and good schools for our kids."
On Israel:
He also supported ending US military aid to Israel and stopping arms sales, and said American policy should be based on equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians and respect for international law.
He welcomed President Donald Trump's announcement to end nearly $4 billion annual military aid to Israel by end of 2026*.
WHAT HE DID NOT SAY:
important clarification from reports:
He did NOT name any specific Pakistani programme
- He did NOT allege a specific incident where Pakistan used US aid to commit a violation
His point was general principle same standard for all countries receiving US aid
HOW MUCH US AID DOES PAKISTAN ACTUALLY GET?
As per US Government Foreign Assistance Database:
FY 2025 Total Obligations: ~ $195.8 million
Military Assistance:Only ~ 2%* (∼$3-4 million)
Rest: Economic assistance health, education, development, disaster relief
So Pakistan is NOT a big military aid receiver anymore like in 2000s. US aid to Pakistan dropped sharply after 2018.
WHY THIS IS BIG NEWS IN INDIA & PAKISTAN:
In India: Seen as support for India's long stand — India has been telling US, IMF, World Bank that aid to Pakistan ends up funding terror / military. India abstained on $1 Billion IMF loan to Pakistan earlier this year, saying funds could be misused.
In Pakistan:Seen as worrying a US Senator-elect questioning aid, even if amount is small, signals shift in Washington.
In US: El-Sayed is part of new progressive wave young Democrats who want to cut foreign military spending and spend at home.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
El-Sayed alone cannot stop aid. Aid is decided by President + Congress. But as Senator, he will sit on committees, can vote against aid bills, demand audits, and push for conditions like no aid if country violates international law.
His victory is seen as a signal that US foreign policy debate is changing from unconditional aid to *aid with conditions
El-Sayed is not just targeting Pakistan. He is targeting the whole system of US funding foreign militaries Israel, Egypt, Saudi, Jordan, Pakistan and asking a simple question:
Why are American taxpayers paying for other countries' armies when American schools, hospitals and roads need money?
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