Breaking: US Senate passes bill recognizing India as major defence partner

[Major Sam]

Bill seeking special status for India fails to pass US Senate

WASHINGTON: The Senate has failed to recognise India as a "global strategic and defence partner" of the US after a key amendment necessary to modify its export control regulations could not be passed.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address to ajoint session of Congress , top Republican senator John McCain had moved an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-17), which if passed would have recognised India as a global strategic and defence partner.

The US had recognised India as a "major defence partner" in a joint statementissued after Modi held talks with President Barack Obama which supported defence-related trade and technology transfer to the country which would now be treated on par with America's closest allies.

NDAA was passed by the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 85-13. But some of the key amendments including the (SA 4618) - even though they had bipartisan support - could not be passed by the Senate.

"The (Senate) amendment (No 4618) was not adopted to the NDAA," a Congressional aide said.

Without specifically mentioning this particular legislative move on India, McCain expressed disappointment that many key amendments could not see the light of day.

"I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support," McCain said in a statement.

"In particular, I am deeply disappointed the Senate was not able to increase the number of special immigrant visas for Afghans who risked their lives to help America in a time of war, and whose lives are still at risk today," he said.


"Too often throughout this process, a single senator was able to bring the Senate's work on our national defence to a halt. This was a breakdown in the decorum of the Senate, and one that will have serious consequences," McCain said.
The McCain amendment said that the relationship between the United States and India has developed over the past two decades to become a multifaceted, global strategic and defence partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the promotion of mutual prosperity, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security, and stability.
As such it asked the President to such actions as may be necessary "to recognise the status of India as a global strategic and defence partner" of the US through appropriate modifications to defence export control regulations.
It also asked the President to approve and facilitate the transfer of advanced technology in the context of, and in order to satisfy, combined military planning with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ls-to-pass-US-Senate/articleshow/52759681.cms

@AZADPAKISTAN2009 @Assault Rifle

Btw

US Senate passes $800m Pakistan fund

http://www.dawn.com/news/1265197/us-senate-passes-800m-pakistan-fund

@WebMaster dont you think title should be change according to correct news?

 

[Who.Cares]

@Assault Rifle Thanks for tagging me but this is different from being strategic defence partner.

Meanwhile,

US Senate passes $800m Pakistan fund
THE NEWSPAPER'S CORRESPONDENT — UPDATED 33 MINUTES AGO

WASHINGTON: The US Senate has passed its draft of the National Defence Authorisation Bill, including a provision to set up a new fund to reimburse Pakistan for its efforts in the war against terrorism.

The Senate version authorises $800 million under a provision called the `Pakistan Security Enhancement Authorisation’.

It also fences $300m behind a similar Haqqani network provision that has existed in the annual defence authorisation acts since the fiscal year 2015.

The proposal for Pakistan was passed as originally initiated.

None of the over 400 amendments considered by the Senate targeted this outlay for Pakistan.

The proposed reimbursement mechanism for Pakistan replaces the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), which was used to reimburse both Afghanistan and Pakistan for their efforts to combat terrorism.

Pakistan has received a total of $3.1 billion since 2013 under the CSF. But this fund expires in the current financial year, ending in October.

The US administration is allowing the CSF to expire because it was linked with a specific US mission in Afghanistan, which has formally ended.

While adopting the new provision, the Senate Armed Services Committee used the CSF model to restructure security support for Pakistan. But it focuses specifically on Pakistan’s own security needs instead of tying it to a broader coalition.

In doing so, the new provision delinks Pakistan from Afghanistan, by recognising it as a country with its own strategic value for US interests.

In a report filed with the draft Defence Bill, the US Senate Armed Services Committee called Pakistan ‘a long-standing strategic partner” and stressed the need to continue a strong relationship with the country.

The committee also noted that since 9/11 Pakistan has been a vital partner of the US in efforts to combat terrorism in South Asia.

Both houses of the Congress have passed their versions of the Defence Bill. A conference committee of both houses will now be formed to develop a consensus draft.

The consensus draft will be passed from both houses of the Congress again before it is sent to the president for signature.

The procedure can be completed by July, although past bills have been passed as late as November.

Senator John McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, had introduced the bill late last month. The committee sent it to the Senate with its approval.

Besides, the Haqqani restriction, the bill requires Pakistan to keep open ground communication lines to Afghanistan for receiving reimbursements from this fund.

Another bill, passed by the House of Representatives last week, linked $450m from a total of $900m proposed for Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network.

The committee expressed the concern that “continued reliance on Coalition Support Fund for the provision of security assistance to Pakistan could negatively impact US support of Pakistani operations to combat terrorism”.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2016

look who is talking

Don't you guys have something better than watching Pakistani Talk Shows and then uploading on youtube Pakistani Media is saying "blah blah". There are too many irrelevant talk shows that no one cares about it anymore.

 

[neem456]

So what is it ? Bill was passed or rejected ?

Any american source from US members ?

 

[illusion8]

So what is it ? Bill was passed or rejected ?

Any american source from US members ?

Bill passed on may 25th, a small amendment brought forward by John Mcain later did not go through - due to the lame duck nature of the Obama administration.

Bill seeking special status for India fails to pass US Senate

WASHINGTON: The Senate has failed to recognise India as a "global strategic and defence partner" of the US after a key amendment necessary to modify its export control regulations could not be passed.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address to ajoint session of Congress , top Republican senator John McCain had moved an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-17), which if passed would have recognised India as a global strategic and defence partner.

The US had recognised India as a "major defence partner" in a joint statementissued after Modi held talks with President Barack Obama which supported defence-related trade and technology transfer to the country which would now be treated on par with America's closest allies.

NDAA was passed by the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 85-13. But some of the key amendments including the (SA 4618) - even though they had bipartisan support - could not be passed by the Senate.

"The (Senate) amendment (No 4618) was not adopted to the NDAA," a Congressional aide said.

Without specifically mentioning this particular legislative move on India, McCain expressed disappointment that many key amendments could not see the light of day.

"I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support," McCain said in a statement.

"In particular, I am deeply disappointed the Senate was not able to increase the number of special immigrant visas for Afghans who risked their lives to help America in a time of war, and whose lives are still at risk today," he said.


"Too often throughout this process, a single senator was able to bring the Senate's work on our national defence to a halt. This was a breakdown in the decorum of the Senate, and one that will have serious consequences," McCain said.
The McCain amendment said that the relationship between the United States and India has developed over the past two decades to become a multifaceted, global strategic and defence partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the promotion of mutual prosperity, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security, and stability.
As such it asked the President to such actions as may be necessary "to recognise the status of India as a global strategic and defence partner" of the US through appropriate modifications to defence export control regulations.
It also asked the President to approve and facilitate the transfer of advanced technology in the context of, and in order to satisfy, combined military planning with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ls-to-pass-US-Senate/articleshow/52759681.cms

@AZADPAKISTAN2009 @Assault Rifle

Btw

US Senate passes $800m Pakistan fund

http://www.dawn.com/news/1265197/us-senate-passes-800m-pakistan-fund

Congratulations - so I suppose this is the carrot?.

 

[TejasMk3]

Congratulations - so I suppose this is the carrot?.

All that "drone attacks violate the sovereignty of Pakistan" will be forgotten now

 

[illusion8]

All that "drone attacks violate the sovereignty of Pakistan" will be forgotten now

Must say, the Americans have perfected the stick and carrot approach to the tee.

 

[Assault Rifle]

@AZADPAKISTAN2009 @illusion8 @TejasMk3 @Major Sam @Sparkle229 @Who.Cares

The media has made several factual on this issue reporting.The bill is yet to appear before Congress so there is no question of rejection.
Two more bills which will give India the Specila status are in Congress and will soon be passed by Senate and Congress

https://twitter.com/x/status/743281724570873856

https://twitter.com/x/status/743281997271826432

https://twitter.com/x/status/743282995075887106

https://twitter.com/x/status/743283396139319296

https://twitter.com/x/status/743283690063691776

 

[WhyCry]

Well the the amendment was actually not passed due to time issues and not because of the consensus. Basically what it meant was that the export import bank will not have to wait for the presedential approval to pass it to the congress. But that rarely happens. The deal needs to be layed out first before being presented to congress. The exception to that is Israel and UK where transfer of tech comes into picture. DTTI IS ALREADY RECOGNISE and has more amendments in its scope.

 

[Assault Rifle]

Here the two bills soon to be passed by Congress:

Special Global Partnership with India Act of 2016
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5387

U.S.-India Defense Technology and Partnership Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4825

 

[Mitro]

Now India has to do more and more and more forever lol.
Ghulami part -2 starts now [emoji56]

 

[Perpendicular]

We have seen media reports about non-inclusion of an India-related amendment in the consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the US Senate. The preparation of NDAA in the US Congress involves approval of different versions in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and their reconciliation to evolve a single consensual text, which is again put to vote in both chambers. The 2017 NDAA is in the process of its formulation and it would be premature to speculate about its final content.

It may be noted that preparation of NDAA is a process distinct from the decision of the US Government to recognize India as a Major Defense Partner . This was an executive decision and already announced in the India-US Joint Statement of June 7. A number of Senators and Congressmen have moved proposals that only seek to reinforce this decision of the US Government . It reflects the bipartisan support in the US Congress for stronger defence cooperation between India and the US.

MEA India

 

[randomradio]

We were never non aligned man, stop this fake term. We were always in USSR camp, and now we are aligned to every country which is exactly what we need to grow at rapid rate.

That's not true. We were always non-aligned. We were merely a lot closer to the Soviets than the West.

 

[HypocriteHunter]

That's not true. We were always non-aligned. We were merely a lot closer to the Soviets than the West.

"Merely closer" is that why KGB was running wild in India? Come on man, wake up.

 

[randomradio]

"Merely closer" is that why KGB was running wild in India? Come on man, wake up.

Even CIA was running wild in India.

An alliance means India is a partner in wars. When has the country fought any war with anybody else?

Non-aligned means, India doesn't stand with any one side. That's one reason why India has such high support across the world, especially Africa.

 

[HypocriteHunter]

When has the country fought any war with anybody else?

Non-aligned means, India doesn't stand with any one side.

Read our history a bit more and you will understand.