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Bill seeks removal of Pak’s non-NATO ally status

Arguing that it is time to stop expedited supply of sophisticated US weaponry to Pakistan, a top lawmaker has introduced a bill in Congress seeking removal of ‘treacherous’ Islamabad’s major non-NATO ally status.

‘It’s time to 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. Too many of our own men and women have died because of Islamabad’s treachery,’ Texas Congressman Ted Poe said after introducing HR 6391, the bill seeking removal of the major non-NATO ally (MNNA) status of Pakistan.

In 2004, the then-President George W Bush had granted Pakistan MNNA status to get its help to fight al-Qaeda and Taliban. MNNA status is significant, granting benefits in foreign aid and defence cooperation. An MNNA country is eligible for priority delivery of defence material, 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 be sold sophisticated weaponry, said a statement issued by the office of the Republican Congressman.[PTI]
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