Republican lawmaker Andy Biggs, has introduced a bill in US House of Representatives to terminate Pakistan's designation as a Major non-NATO on the first day of the 117th Congress, news agency PTI reported.
The bill is meant to remove Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally which allows the country to access many benefits such as US defence supplies, participation in cooperative defence research, and development projects.
The introduced bill also restrains the US President from issuing a separate designation of Pakistan as a Major NATO ally unless a presidential certificate is received to certify that Pakistan is working to conduct military operations that are impactful in disrupting the Haqqani Network's haven and their freedom of movement in Pakistan.
The bill next mentions that a presidential certification is needed saying Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate the country's commitment to stop the use of any of its territory as a safe haven and it also seeks that Pakistan government actively coordinates with Afghanistan to restrict movements of militants (including Haqqani Network) along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
The bill also seeks certification from the president that Pakistan is showing progress in taking action against Haqqani Network and also arresting and prosecuting the network's senior and mid-level operators.
Pakistan became a Major non-NATO ally in 2004 during the Bush Administration. With Brazil being the last country to be given this designation by President Donald Trump, right now 17 countries are named as Major non-NATO allies of US.
