The US Congress has tasked the Pentagon to develop a “forward-looking strategy” to build an “enduring defence relationship” with India in line with its designation last year as a “Major Defence Partner” of the United States.
The Congress’s directive is set out in the National Defence Authorisation Act for 2018 after reconciling the differences between the Senate and House versions of the omnibus legislation through the conference mechanism.
The legislation that also sets the limit for disbursements to Pakistan under Coalition Support Funds at $700 million for fiscal 2018 extends the conditionality, tying 50 per cent of the funding to Islamabad’s “demonstrable steps” against terror outfits Haqqani Network and lashkar-e-Tayyeba.
Making its case for beefing up defence ties with India, the Senate-House conference document says the modified provisions of the Act “require the Secretary of Defence to develop a forward-looking strategy that would build upon current objectives and goals, underlining a mutual desire to develop an enduring defence relationship with India”.
Noting that the “Major Defence Partner” designation is “unique to India”, the report says the reconciled version of the legislation “institutionalises the progress made to facilitate defence trade and technology cooperation between the United States and India to a level commensurate with the closest allies and partners of the United States”.
The designation also promotes joint exercises, defence strategy and policy coordination, military exchanges, and port calls in support of defence cooperation between the two countries.
In respect of cooperation on Afghanistan, the document said, “The United States and India should work closely with Afghanistan to promote stability in the region to include targeted infrastructure development and economic investment, means to address capability gaps in country, and improved humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.”
The report requires the Pentagon and the State Department to brief the
appropriate Congressional
committees within 90 days of commencement of the Act, and every year thereafter, on the actions taken by them to promote US-India defence cooperation.
Following the reconciliation exercise, the National Defence Authorisation Act 2018 will now go back to the House and the Senate for a formal approval and then head to the White House for the President’s signature.
As for Pakistan, the reconciled legislation says that of the total amount of $900 million that may be provided under Coalition Support Funds during fiscal 2018, the amount for Pakistan would be limited to $700 million.
“The provision would also extend for one year certain notifications and certification requirements relating to payments to Pakistan,” it says, adding: “The provision would make $350.0 million of this amount contingent upon certification from the Secretary of Defense that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network and lashkar-e-Tayyiba in Pakistan.”
“The House recedes with an amendment that would extend the CSF authority through December 31, 2018 and remove lashkar-e-
Tayyeba from those certification requirements not eligible for a national security waiver,” it said.