Context: 

Recently, a Republican Congressman has reintroduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to remove Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA). 

More on the News 

• The proposed legislation calls for the revocation of Pakistan’s MNNA designation under Section 517(a)(1) of the USA's Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
• The Bill proposes that the US president should not issue a certification affirming Pakistan’s MNNA designation unless Pakistan undertakes substantial military operations to disrupt the Haqqani Network’s safe havens and freedom of movement within its borders.
• Additionally, the certification must confirm that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps to prevent the Haqqani Network from using its territory as a safe haven and is actively cooperating with the Afghan government to curb militant movement along the Afghan-Pakistani border.
• Initially introduced by the same Congressman in January 2019, the Bill has been reintroduced in every subsequent Congress but has not advanced legislatively in any attempt. 

Pakistan’s MNNA Status: 

• Pakistan got the major non-NATO ally status in 2004 from President George W. Bush, mainly due to its role in the Afghanistan war.
• Also, Afghanistan was designated as an MNNA in 2012, but this status was revoked by President Joe Biden after the country fell to the Taliban in 2022.

What is an MNNA Status?

• It is a designation granted by the United States to countries that maintain strategic partnerships with the US armed forces without being members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• This status allows access to military and financial benefits but doesn’t provide the same mutual defence guarantees as NATO membership.

Privileges resulting from MNNA:

• Eligible for loans of material, supplies, or equipment for cooperative research, development, testing, or evaluation purposes.
• Eligible as a location for U.S.-owned War Reserve Stockpiles to be placed on its territory outside of U.S. military facilities.
• Can enter into agreements with the United States for the cooperative furnishing of training on a bilateral or multilateral basis, if the financial arrangements are reciprocal and provide for reimbursement of all U.S. direct costs.
• Eligible to enter into an MOU or other formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense for the purpose of conducting cooperative research and development projects on defence equipment and munitions. 
• Eligible for consideration to purchase depleted uranium ammunition. 

• Currently, 19 countries are designated as MNNAs: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya (Newest Member), Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia.

• In addition, Taiwan is also treated as an MNNA, without formal designation due to the One China policy.