Bill seeking revocation of Pakistan’s non-NATO ally status moved in US Congress

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GEO NEWS
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Republican Congressman Ted Poe and Democratic lawmaker Rick Nolan introduced the bill. Photo: AP/file

WASHINGTON: A bipartisan bill seeking to revoke Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO-ally (MNNA) was moved by two US Congressmen in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Republican Congressman Ted Poe and Democratic lawmaker Rick Nolan introduced the bill, HR 3000.

Pakistan was granted MNNA status in 2004 under President Bush to assist the United States in combating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

“Pakistan must be held accountable for the American blood on its hands,” claimed Poe, who currently serves as chairman of the subcommittee on terrorism, non-proliferation and trade.

“For years, Pakistan has acted as a Benedict Arnold ally of the United States. From harbouring Osama bin Laden to backing the Taliban, Pakistan has stubbornly refused to go after, in any meaningful way, terrorists that actively seek to harm opposing ideologies,” he alleged.

“We must make a clean break with Pakistan, but at the very least, we should stop providing them the eligibility to obtain our own sophisticated weaponry in an expedited process granting them a privileged status reserved for our closest allies.”

“Time and time again, Pakistan has taken advantage of America’s goodwill and demonstrated that they are no friend and ally of the United States,” Nolan stated.

Nolan insisted that such a measure was necessary to create a safer world for Americans to live in.

Under MNNA, a country is eligible for priority delivery of defence materials, an expedited arms sale process and a US loan guarantee programme, which backs up loans issued by private banks to finance arms exports.

It can also stockpile US military hardware, participate in defence research and development programmes and be sold more sophisticated weaponry.