Mar 11, 2022: A U.S lawmaker, known for his support for India, has called for Pakistan to be declared a state sponsor of terrorism.
The Congressman introduced a bill titled “Stopping Pakistani terror act” in the house that seeks to designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The bill tabled by US Congressman Scott Perry on March 8 read, “To provide for the designation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and for other purposes.”
The same Congressman, last month, wrote a letter to the White House urging the Biden administration to block the approval of Pakistan’s nominated ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan. However, the administration accepted the nomination and issued the agreement on February 5, which is celebrated as Kashmir Day in Pakistan.
According to the official website of the U.S Congress, the bill is labelled HR 6993. The main categories of sanctions include restrictions on US foreign assistance, a ban on defence exports and sales, certain controls over exports of dual-use items and other financial restrictions.The move by the US lawmaker came shortly after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks against Nato and the European Union.
“Effective on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall be deemed to be a country the government of which the [US] Secretary of State determines has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism..,” read the bill.
“[US] shall suspend delivery to such country of any such item pursuant to any such transaction which has not been completed at the time the Secretary of State makes the determination..”
The main categories of sanctions include sanctions on U.S foreign aid, restrictions on defense exports and sales, financial transactions and others. The U.S. government will be barred from directly or indirectly exporting or supplying any munitions to the country subject to the sanctions set forth in the bill “otherwise (through sale, lease or loan, grant, or other means”).
This development comes at a time when Pakistan is under intense pressure from the West to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan, however, has refused to criticize Moscow’s actions, but has insisted on resolving the dispute through dialogue and diplomacy.
A group of 22 Republican U.S lawmakers last year moved a bill in the US Senate seeking imposition of sanctions on the Afghan Taliban that could also potentially extend to Pakistan.
The bill, titled ‘Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act’, triggered an angry rebuke from a senior member of Pakistan’s cabinet. The text of the bill called for “the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Taliban and persons assisting the Taliban in Afghanistan, and for other purposes.”
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