Washington: Major US Senator John McCain has tabled a legislative amendment in the Senate to impose gradual diplomatic, military and economic costs on Pakistan by continuing to provide support to terrorist groups, including the Taliban and the Haqqani network.
The measure, as an amendment to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), is part of an effort by Senator McCain to establish lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and prevent this war-torn country To be a launching pad for terrorist attacks against the United States.
McCain is chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee and legislative measures he always pass through Congress.
Senate Bill 609 to the NDAA-2018 says it is the sense of the US Congress to deny, disrupt, degrade, and destroy the ability of terrorist groups to direct attacks on the US, its allies, and its main interests. The amendment also allows it to prevent the Taliban from using military force to overthrow the Afghan government and reduce control of the Taliban over the Afghan population.
As part of this goal, McCain calls for the strengthening of Afghan security forces, the authorization of US forces to attack Haqqani terrorists and the Taliban and others. It also calls for regional diplomatic initiatives, including India to this extent.
The legislative amendment calls for “diplomatic, military and economic costs to be imposed on Pakistan, provided it continues to provide support and refuge to terrorist and insurgent groups, including the Taliban and the Haqqani network.
“At the same time, it is called for to outline the potential benefits of a long-term US-Pakistan strategic partnership that could result from Pakistan’s cessation of support for all terrorist and insurgent groups and the constructive role in pulling a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan. ”
The amendment also calls for intensified US regional diplomatic efforts by working with flexible frameworks for regional dialogue with Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and other nations to promote political reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The measure is also aimed at promoting regional cooperation on issues such as border security, intelligence exchange, drug trafficking, transport and trade to reduce mistrust and build confidence among regional states.
The McCain amendment proposes a strict conditioning of Afghanistan’s economic assistance and governance programs on quantifiable progress in achieving joint US-Afghanistan benchmarks to implement the necessary institutional reforms, especially those related to anti-corruption, transparency Financial and rule of law.
Calling for an increase in the number of US counter-terrorism forces in Afghanistan; The amendment requires US military personnel to have “status-based targeting authorities” against the Taliban, Haqqani Network, Al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups that threaten the United States, its allies and its fundamental interests.
In his amendment, McCain calls for a joint agreement to secure a long-term counterterrorism partnership between the United States and Afghanistan, which he said will include a permanent presence of counter-terrorists in Afghanistan.
The US Senate has not yet voted on the NDAA-2018.
Yesterday, in a statement, McCain cursed the delay in his approval. “It is unfortunate that a senator has decided to block consideration of a bill that our nation now needs, the National Defense Authorization Act,” he said.
“For 55 consecutive years, Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides our men and women uniformed with the resources, skills and salaries and benefits they need to carry out their missions on behalf of the American people and maintain Our Safe country. This legislation is more vital than ever, “McCain said.
“Global terrorist networks, increasing high-powered competition with Russia and China, slander Iranian influence throughout the Middle East, a North Korean dictator competing to acquire missiles that can strike the United States with nuclear weapons – threats to our National security have not been more complex or daunting than at any point in the last seven decades, “he said.
