Obama Signs Defense Bill That Authorizes $ 3.4 Billion For Afghan Forces

Washington (BNA) The US President, Barack Obama, on Friday signed into law the $618 billion annual defense budget the National defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017 which among other things authorized $3.4 billion for Afghan security forces and conditions $400 of the $900 million of funding to Pakistan on a Defense Secretary certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network. NDAA-2017 authorizes $3.4 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund to preserve the gains of the last 15 years and continue to degrade and defeat terrorist organizations with transnational operational reach and intent to harm US national security interests, said a summary of the bill released by the Senate Armed Services Committee. It also extends the Afghanistan Special Immigrant Visa program for translators and other Afghans performing sensitive and trusted activities in support of the U.S. Government mission who were threatened by reprisal from the Taliban, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, and other extremist groups. “(It) refocuses security assistance to Pakistan on activities that directly support U.S. national security interests and conditions a significant portion of funding on a certification from the Secretary of Defense that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network in Pakistani territory,” the summary said. NDAA 2017 imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for $400 million of the $900 million of the coalition support fund (CSF). The US Defense Secretary needed to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continued to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any of its territory as a safe haven. Early this year, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter refused to give a similar certification to Pakistan this year as a result of which it was not given a $ 300 million under coalition support fund. The bill further creates a USD1.2 billion Counter-ISIL Fund providing flexible resources to support training and equipping the properly-vetted Syrian opposition, Iraqi Security Forces, the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga, Sunni tribal elements, and other local security forces with a national security mission such as local security forces that are committed to protecting highly vulnerable ethnic and religious communities.