Anti-Pakistan bill introduced in US Senate

A bill has been introduced in the US Senate seeking restrictions on offering any security assistance to Pakistan if it is found to have sponsored terrorism and Communist China, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

US Senator Marco Rubio introduced the bill in the Congress that proposes to treat India on par with its allies like as Japan, Israel, South Korea and NATO regarding technology transfers, support India in its response to growing threats to its territorial integrity and bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if it is found to have sponsored terrorism against India.

"Communist China continues to aggressively expand its domain in the Indo-Pacific region, all while it seeks to impede the sovereignty and autonomy of our regional partners. It's crucial for the US to continue its support in countering these malicious tactics. India, along with other nations in the region, is not alone," Rubio said after he introduced the US-India Defence Cooperation Act in the Senate.

Given the short timeline of a bitterly divided Congress in an election year, the bill is unlikely to make much headway, but might be reintroduced in the next Congress given that there is a bipartisan level of support on the India-US relationship. The bill notes that the US-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi, it asserts.

Among other things, the bill would set a Statement of Policy that the US will support India in its response to growing threats to its territorial integrity, provide necessary security assistance to India to deter adversaries, and cooperate with India with respect to defence, civil space, technology, medicine and economic investments.

When passed into law, it would provide a limited exemption for India from CAATSA sanctions for purchases of Russian equipment that are currently used by the Indian military and set a sense of Congress that expeditious consideration of certifications of letters of offer to sell defence articles, defence services, design and construction services, and major defence equipment to India is consistent with US interests and it is in the interest of peace and stability India to have the capabilities needed to deter threats.

It proposes to treat India as if it were of the same status as the US allies such as Japan, Israel, Korea, and NATO allies regarding technology transfers; authorize the Secretary of State to enter into a memorandum of understanding with India to increase military cooperation; expedite excess defense articles to India for two years and grant India the same status as other allies; and expand International Military Education and Training Cooperation with New Delhi.

It requires a report to Congress on Pakistan's use of offensive force, including through terrorism and proxy groups, against India; and bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if it is found to have sponsored terrorism against India.

This is for the first time such an India-centric bill has been introduced in the US Congress that proposes to put India at the same level of that of its treaty ally, exempt it from CAATSA sanctions, and imposes sanctions on Pakistan for promoting terrorism in India. 

It is to be further noted that this is the first time a US Congress bill has been introduced with a focus on India, aiming to elevate India to the same status as treaty allies, exempt it from CAATSA sanctions, and impose sanctions on Pakistan for terrorism against India.

How did CAATSA come into existence?

In 1996, the United States Congress enacted a law emphasizing secondary sanctions, which imposed penalties on third parties for interacting with the primary target of sanctions. Notable examples include the Helms-Burton Act, which targets Cuba, and the Iran Sanctions Act, which targets Iran.

The CAATSA imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The Bill was passed by the Senate on 27 July 2017 after it passed House 419–3. It was signed into law on August 2, 2017 by President Donald Trump.

Through an amendment in the National Defence Authorization Act of 2019, India was granted a waiver from the stringent CAATSA. This waiver prevented sanctions on India for importing Russian weapons, including the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system.

While ignoring the CAATSA, India inked a $5.43 billion deal with Russia to procure four S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile defence systems in October 2018. This led to the US threatening India with sanctions over India's decision.