Bill to remove Pakistan as major non-NATO ally introduced in United States Congress

An influential US lawmaker has introduced legislation in Congress to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally.

Introduced by Republican Congressman Andy Briggs, the resolution 73, introduced in the House of Representatives, seeks termination of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally and also sets conditions for its re-designation if any.

The resolution has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary action.

It states, for future re-designation, the US President needs to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in the country.

It further says that the Government of Pakistan actively coordinates with the Afghanistan Government to obstruct the movement of terrorists along with the Afghanistan-Pakistan border

READ| Of Gandhi Landmarks In Pakistan: Mostly Gone!

Donald Trump on January 3 said that he wants a "great relationship" with Pakistan and is looking forward to meeting the new leadership in that country.

Trump told his Cabinet colleagues in the same meeting that he has ended USD 1.3 billion in aid to Pakistan because "this South Asian country houses enemies". The US President underscored that his administration has initiated peace talks with the Taliban. He also announced that a meeting with the new leadership of Pakistan will take place "very soon".

Earlier, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, who is considered close to President Trump, told CNN in an interview that if Pakistan helped the US in bringing the Taliban to the table for negotiations, then the US would focus on counterterrorism and the IS.

The Republican Senator wants the US to offer Pakistan a free trade agreement as an incentive for Islamabad to push the Taliban to the peace table to end the Afghan war.

Trump also went on to allege that Pakistan has not been fair to the United States.

"We want to have a great relationship with Pakistan, but they house the enemy. They take care of the enemy. We just can't do that," Trump said.

Imran Khan was sworn in as Pakistan's Prime Minister in August last year. The cricketer turned politician had said in January last year that meeting US President Trump would be a "bitter pill" to swallow should he become Pakistan's prime minister in elections later that year, but added, "I would meet him."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met Prime Minister Khan in Islamabad in September last year and pressed him to take "sustained and decisive measures" against terrorists threatening the regional peace and stability.

READ| Pakistan Releases Indian Prisoner Hamid Nihal Ansari After 6 Years