Democrats in bid to block MNNA status for Islamabad
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, April 1: A legislation has been introduced in the US Congress that will make it difficult for President George Bush to formally designate Pakistan a major non-Nato ally.
The legislation has been moved by pro-Indian Congressman Gary Ackerman, a democrat from New York. "And I would urge our colleagues to take a look and see if they'd be willing to co-sponsor that bill," said Mr Ackerman in a recent appeal to other lawmakers.
In his proposed legislation, Mr Ackerman has suggested changing the way the US president can designate a nation a major non-Nato ally. The proposed changes would require two certifications from the US president before making that designation. The first certification deals with democracy and requires the president to certify that the designee is a democracy.
The second certification deals with weapons of mass destruction. Under this requirement, the president will have to certify that the designated country participates with the United States in all international agreements and arrangements aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
This would require a categorical declaration from the US president that the country seeking a major non-Nato ally status works with the US government to prevent the export of chemical, biological, nuclear and other weapons, delivery systems and related dual-use components.
In the present circumstances, both the restrictions appear to be Pakistan specific. Many US lawmakers, particularly those in the opposition Democratic Party, do not recognize the present political setup in Pakistan as democratic and would dispute the certification even if the US president were to declare Pakistan a democracy.
The other certification concerning weapons of mass destruction will also be difficult to make. Although Pakistan has signed all major international agreements banning the spread of chemical and biological weapons, it does possess nuclear weapons and has been regularly developing its delivery systems.
This restriction, if accepted as a law and implemented, could also be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan, observers say. They argue that a certification from a US president could also be interpreted as an official recognition of Pakistan's nuclear programme and thus legitimize what the movers of the proposed legislation are fighting against.
"I'm truly astonished by Secretary Powell's announcement two weeks ago that the president would designate Pakistan as a major non-Nato ally," said Mr Ackerman while explaining why he introduced the legislation.
"What is truly amazing is that, in addition to giving Pakistan a pass on democratic development, the administration is also giving them a pass on proliferating nuclear technology."
Mr Ackerman alleged that Pakistan has "sold nuclear technology and probably nuclear weapons designs to terrorist states, even those in the evil axis" and that's why it should not be given the status of a major non-Nato ally.
Although largely symbolic, diplomatic observers in Washington say that the designation can allow the US president to ignore certain laws that oblige him to impose nuclear-related sanctions on Pakistan, particularly those under the Symington and Glenn amendments.
The sanctions under these two amendments are very repressive and can prevent all major economic and military US assistance to Pakistan.
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