WASHINGTON: The US Congress has passed the bill that requires Pakistan to work with the Afghan and American forces to destroy the Haqqani network but leaves Lashkar-e-Taiba out (LeT).

The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018 — approved by a voice vote by both the House and the Senate on Thursday evening provides about $700 billion for US defence needs in 2018.

The NDA 2018 also provides $700 million for reimbursing Pakistan for monitoring the Pak-Afghan border but withholds half of the amount.

It also prevents the administration from issuing a waiver for $350m unless the US Secretary of Defence certifies to the congressional defence committees that: “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 in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistan territory as a safe haven and for fundraising and recruiting efforts. The 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, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting senior leaders and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network.”

Previous versions of the bill required the secretary to issue a similar certificate for LeT but its name was dropped from the later version, known as the conference.

In the conference versions, the House and the Senate remove their differences on various issues and present a reconciled version to the full Congress for approval.

Delinking LeT from the Haqqani Network reflects Washington’s desire to keep its focus on Afghanistan and encourage Pakistan to cooperate. Policy makers in Washington feel that linking an India-specific group like LeT with the Haqqani Network could discourage Pakistan from cooperating with the US in the war in Afghanistan.

On Friday, the bill was sent to President Donald Trump for signing it into a law.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2017