DHAKA: US lawmakers on approved amendments to a defense bill that seeks to bring India on a par with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies for sale of defense equipment and technology transfer, even as they voted to increase restrictions on military assistance for Pakistan , including immediately blocking $450 million in aid, unless certain conditions are met.

The passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), 2017, was the scene of much action relating to the Indian subcontinent and Asia Pacific region, as lawmakers moved to codify Washington’s Asia pivot, a strategy that includes strengthening New Delhi’s military muscle implicitly aimed at countering Beijing’s expansionism, The Times of India reports on Saturday (May 21).

Sponsored by George Holding and Ami Bera (House India Caucus chairs) and the chair and ranking member of House foreign affairs committee, Ed Royce and Elliot Engel, respectively, the amendment (enhancing defense and security cooperation with India) seeks to promote greater defense trade and encourage additional military cooperation between the US and India.

It encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defense cooperation, facilitate the transfer of technology, and maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the centerpiece of the military tie-up between the two countries.

BDST: 1401 HRS, May 21, 2016
SAS/RR