Washington: A US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives that seeks to end Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, and annual certification from the President with certain conditions for granting such a designation to Islamabad. is required. The bill (HR 80) was introduced by Congressman Andy Biggs, who represents Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District. It needs to be passed by the House and Senate before being signed into law by the US President, and sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary action. Usually such bills do not fructify, but the current bill reflects the sentiments of lawmakers against Pakistan, which is known for harboring terrorism and using it as a state policy.
To further perpetuate Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, the bill asks the US president to issue a certification that the country has made efforts to arrest and hold senior leaders and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network. Has shown progress in prosecuting and has taken steps to demonstrate. Our commitment to preventing the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven.
Both situations are seen as a major challenge for Pakistan, as many in the US consider the Haqqani network to be a de facto branch of the ISI.
The bill also seeks a certification from the US President that Pakistan actively coordinates with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants such as the Haqqani network along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.