US lawmaker Andy Biggs has called for the revocation of Pakistan’s designation as a major non-Nato ally for the failure to curb terrorism and sheltering the Haqqani Group, a designated terrorist organisation aligned with the Talibanread more

A US Congressman has moved a bill to revoke Pakistan’s ‘Major non-Nato Ally’ status.

Republican Representative Andy Biggs from Arizona has introduced the bill titled ’ To terminate the designation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, and for other purposes’ in the House of Representatives that seeks to revoke the ‘Major non-Nato Ally’ status of Pakistan.

Major non-Nato allies are eligible for enhanced defence and security trade and cooperation with the United States. There are 18 such partners: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia. There is a special provision for Taiwan to be treated as a ‘Major non-Nato Ally’ despite no formal designation or recognition as a sovereign state.

Biggs has been introducing the bill for Pakistan’s removal from major non-Nato allies since 2019, but the move has always been symbolic as no progress has ever been made. There is little scope of any progress this time as well.

In the bill, Biggs has flagged Pakistan providing a safe haven to Haqqani Network, a designated terrorist organisation aligned with the Taliban that rules Afghanistan, and has required for the United States to ensure that Pakistan acts militarily against terrorists on its soil, according to PTI.

The Haqqani Group’s leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is also a designated terrorist and serves as the deputy leader of the Taliban and the interior minister of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Pakistan was designated as a major non-Nato ally in 2004 when the United States was actively pursuing jihadists in Afghanistan and the Middle East under the War on Terror. To operate in Afghanistan, cooperation of Pakistan was central for the United States.

Under the major non-Nato ally designation, Pakistan procured military aircraft, naval ships, and weapon systems. Some of the platforms procured by Pakistan under programmes reserved for major non-Nato allies are: F-16 warplanes, Orion maritime patrol aircraft, Cobra attack helicopters, C-130 military transport aircraft, a Perry-class frigate, 115 howitzers, surveillance radars, military radios, and thousands of anti-tank missiles.