Washington, July 15

The US House of Representatives has passed the annual defence budget of $621.5 billion for 2018 fiscal. Among other things, it seeks advancing of military cooperation with India, already a major defence partner of America.An amendment on enhancing cooperation with India was moved by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera and was adopted by a voice vote by the House as part of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018, beginning October 1 this year. The NDAA-2018 was passed by the House 344-81.The India-related amendment passed by the House requires the Secretary of Defence, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the US and India.“The US is the world’s oldest democracy and India is the world’s largest democracy. It is vitally important to develop a strategy that advances defence cooperation between our two nations,” Bera said.“I am grateful this amendment passed and look forward to the Defence Department’s strategy that addresses critical issues like common security challenges, the role of partners and allies, and areas for collaboration in science and technology,” he said. “Cooperation between the US and India enhances our own defence and ability to meet the evolving security challenges,” Bera said. Following the passage of the Act, the Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State have 180 days to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the US and India. — PTI

Senate nod needed

• The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-2018) will now go to the Senate before US President signs it into law
• The Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State have 180 days to develop a strategy for advancing defence ties between US and India
• The Act involves developing a strategy to address common security challenges and the role of US partners and allies

Conditional funding to Pakistan

• The US House of Representatives has voted for three legislative amendments to impose tougher conditions for reimbursement of defence funding to Pakistan, making it conditional to Islamabad showing satisfactory progress in the fight against terrorism
• The conditions are related to Pakistan’s support to terrorists and terror outfits, about which several top US officials and lawmakers have repeatedly expressed concern about in the past