Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act introduced in US House of Representatives

Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017 (HR 1449) was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Ted Poe. The bill pushes the US government to declare Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.

It also asks the government to provide a reasonable justification for not doing so in a limited time.

Poe who introduced the bill in the house on 9 March 2017 is the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism.

Highlights of the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act 2017

• It requires Donald Trump, the US President, to issue a report detailing whether Pakistan has provided support for international terrorism. The report should be issued within 90 days.

• After issuance of the report, the Secretary of State will be required to submit a follow-up report that contains either a determination that Pakistan is a “state sponsor of terrorism” or a detailed justification why it does not meet the legal criteria for such a designation. This follow-up report should be presented in next 30 days.

Poe who presented the Bill in the House says that Islamabad is an untrustworthy ally and has aided and abetted enemies of America for years. To defend his claim, he provided certain examples like Osama bin Laden and its relationship with Haqqani network. Providing certain examples, he claims that these examples are more than enough to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the War on Terror.

The lawmaker of US says “it’s time when we should stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism”.