By: Azhar Azam
Senator John Mccain, Chairman of Committee on Armed Services, presented a Bill (S. 1519 – National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2018) in US Senate on July 10, 2017 to authorize appropriations for military activities of Department of Defense (DOD) for various activities.
The committee markup of the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year contributed to a total of $640 billion for national defense; which exceeds Trump’s budget request and the spending cap of the Budget Control Act (BCA).
However the committee believed that this authorization is necessary to help the US military restore readiness and instead recommended an overall discretionary authorization of tearing $692.1 billion for the fiscal year 2018; against administration’s request of $659.8 billion for national defense discretionary programs.
It includes Department of Defense (DOD) base budget ($610.9 billion), national security programs ($21.0 billion) in Department of Energy (DOE) and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), and Overseas Contingency Operations –OCO ($60.2 billion).
House of Representatives passed the Defense Policy Bill of nearly $700 billion by a wide margin: 344-81. House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Mac Thornberry who vetted the bill as did Mccain, touted the passage as a “really promising step in the right direction”.
Subtitle B – Matter Relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan of Title XII – Matters Relating to Foreign Nations of the Report accompanying the Bill, noted that stability in the region cannot be attained without stability in Pakistan itself and fostering a strong, stable, and secure Pakistan. The bill also admitted that Pakistan is consistent with national security goals of the United States.
Furthermore the Public Law 114-128 also acknowledges that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of Haqqani Network in Pakistan.
Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven. The government of Pakistan also actively coordinates with the government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants; such as Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Pakistan has also shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives.
Now the committee reckons that these security challenges remain unchanged from one year ago and thus, recommends that provision would enhance the separate authority for Pakistan created last year.
The Bill recommends to limit a maximum amount of $1.1 billion from October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017; that should not exceed $900 million for the fiscal year 2018; out of which $700 million could only be provided to Pakistan, in coalition support fund (CSF). The provision would also extend for 1-year certain notifications and certifications requirements relating to payments to Pakistan.
This provision would also make $350 million (earlier $400 million) of this amount contingent upon certification from Secretary of Defense that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in Pakistan:
$350,000 shall not be eligible for the waiver unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that:
1. Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe havens, fundraising and recruiting efforts, and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in Pakistan;
2. Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba from using any Pakistan territory as a safe haven and for fundraising and recruiting efforts;
3. Government of Pakistan is making an attempt to actively coordinate with the Government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, such as the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border;
And
4. Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting senior leaders and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.
These are the additional restrictions Pakistan is required to get reimbursement on account of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) and are proposed to update the most recently updated National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-128), Section 1218, Extension and Modification of Authority For Reimbursement Certain Coalition Nations For Support Provided To United States Military Operations:
1. Counterterrorism activities including the following:
- Eliminating infrastructure, training areas, and sanctuaries by terrorist groups and prevention new such establishments;
- Direct actions against individuals, that are involved in or supporting terrorist activities;
- Any other activity recognized with Secretary of Defense as counterterrorism activity for above purposes
2. Border security services along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border including the following:
- Building and maintaining border outposts;
- Strengthening cooperative efforts and cooperation between Pakistan military and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces;
- Maintaining access to and securing key ground lines of communication;
- Providing training and equipment for the Pakistan Frontier Corps Khyber PakhtunKhaw
- Improving interpretably between the Pakistan military and the Pakistan Frontier Corps Khyber PakhtunKhaw
3. Any activities carried out by Pakistan military that the Secretary of Defense determined and reports to the appropriate congressional committees have enhanced the security of United States personnel stationed in Afghanistan or enhanced the enhanced the effectiveness of United States military personnel in conducting counterterrorism operations and training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.