Legislation introduced in U.S. House to terminate designation of Pakistan as major non-NATO ally

Congressman Andy Biggs reintroduces legislation to terminate Pakistan's major non-NATO ally status, focusing on disrupting Haqqani Network operations.

An influential Republican Congressman has reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally.

Reintroduced by Congressman Andy Biggs, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, the legislation says the President should not issue a certification in this regard unless Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan.

The certification also needs to say that Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using Pakistan as a safe haven and that Islamabad actively coordinates with the Afghan government to restrict the movement of militants such as the Haqqani Network, along the Afghan-Pak border.

Mr. Biggs first introduced the bill in the US House of Representatives in January 2019 and it has been introduced in every Congress since then. However, it has failed to make any legislative progress in all previous attempts.