Hardline US Congressman reignites debate over Pakistan's non-NATO ally status

Congressman Andy Biggs, widely regarded as a far-right Republican with controversial views, has reintroduced a bill in Congress to revoke Pakistan's decade-long status as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA).

Hailing from the State of Arizona, Biggs submitted four pieces of legislation to be taken by the Congress on January 8, one of them was about Pakistan.

Andy Biggs is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance.

The legislation introduced by him calls for the U.S. president to withhold certification of Pakistan’s MNNA status unless Pakistan demonstrates commitment to eliminating the Haqqani Network's safe havens and freedom of movement within its borders.

It also emphasizes the need for Islamabad to coordinate with the Afghan government to restrict the movement of militants along the Pak-Afghan border.

What does MNNA status entail

Pakistan was granted the status in 2004 by the then US President George W. Bush. This alliance can aid the designated country with improving the defense capabilities including but not limited to military trainings. It can also involve provision of grants and monetary collaboration to accomplish certain tasks of mutual importance.

Political commentator Jahangir Khattak noted that this legislation has been submitted multiple times since 2019 but has never passed or even made it to the House floor. He added that Biggs has been reintroducing this bill for years, with the first attempt occurring near the end of President Trump’s initial term.

“Military aid was blocked by President Trump in his first tenure, so I do not see any major impact on Pakistan even if we lose this status,” Khattak said, summarizing the outcome of a possible change in the status.

However, he added that the passage of this legislation does question the effectiveness of our diplomatic efforts in the U.S.

Despite calling these as “unpredictable” times in U.S. politics, Khattak called such a legislation as another tactic to pressurize Pakistan into distancing itself from China. Although it could have an opposite effect too, he added.

The outcome of the submitted piece of legislation still depends if and when the bill is discussed on the floor of the House and Senate.

Biggs’ politics

Another piece of legislation that was submitted before the Congress by Andrew Biggs along with this bill was a resolution urging the House not to accept the legitimacy of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC is the international judicial body that issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his actions post October 7, 2023 in Gaza.

Another bill was submitted to cutoff complete aid to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO has been receiving a lot of harsh criticism from the Israeli government for allegedly aiding Hamas in Gaza. The UN has categorically denied this claim.

Andrew Biggs also chairs the Freedom Caucus, considered right-wing-populist by many. Biggs has been opposing all forms of elective abortion rights. He is also criticized for rejecting scientific consensus on climate change.

In June 2021, Biggs was among 14 House Republicans who voted against passing legislation to establish June 19, or Juneteenth, as a federal holiday, a day to commemorate the ending of slavery in the US in 1865.