WASHINGTON: US House of Representatives has voted for three legislative amendments to impose tougher conditions for reimbursement of defence funding to Pakistan, on the condition that Islamabad shows satisfactory progress in its fight against terrorism. All three legislative amendments to the $651 billion National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018 were adopted by a voice vote by the lower house of the Congress.
Passed by the House, the bill requires the Secretary of Defence to certify, prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan, that Islamabad is maintaining security along the ground lines of communication through the country, taking demonstrable steps to support counter-terrorism operations, disrupting cross-border attacks, and countering the threat of improvised explosive devices. Conditions are related to Pakistan's support to terrorists and terror outfits, about which several top US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concern about in the past. The bill also specifies that of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pak during the period beginning on October 1, this year and ending on December 31, next year, $400 million would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the secretary of defence certifies that Pak continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan.
The Defence Secretary also needs to certify that Pak is demonstrating commitment to preventing the Haqqani network from using North Waziristan as a safe haven, and is actively coordinating with the government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, including the Haqqani Network. Two of the amendments were moved by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, and one by Ted Poe, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of subcommittee on terrorism, non-proliferation & trade. One of Poe's amendment proposes to withhold reimbursement funding for Pak unless the Defence Secretary can certify that the country is not providing military, financial, or logistical support to any individuals designated by the US as a terrorist operating in Pak or Afghanistan.
“Making excess military equipment available to federal, state, and law enforcement agencies along our southern border will provide much-needed support and reinforcements to the men and women who are our first line of defence. It is well-known that Pakistan is a Benedict Arnold ally who supports multiple terrorist organisations, including groups that target Americans working to stabilise Afghanistan. But current limitations on military reimbursement funding to Pakistan only apply to one terrorist group: the Haqqani network,” Poe said.
