The Bush administration is proposing to shift more than $200 million in foreign aid to Pakistan in order to upgrade Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets. The US says the jets would help target militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Critics fear the move could escalate Pakistani tensions with India. State Department spokesperson Gonzalo Gallegos defended the plan.

State Department spokesperson Gonzalo Gallegos: “The bottom line here is that we’ve shifted money to help the democratically elected government of Pakistan to fight a common foe, a common enemy that we have. We believe that these upgrades that had already been approved will help the Pakistanis, us — it will help the Pakistanis help us fight this common foe, and that we believe that this is a positive way to help a friend.”