National & International Events - Current Affairs for December, 2016

US President Barack Obama has signed into law a USD 618 billion defence budget for 2017, which enhances security cooperation with India ad conditions nearly half of the funding to Pakistan on a certification that is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani network.

Obama on 23rd Dec 2016 signed the NDAA or National Defence Authorisation Act 2017 which asks defence secretary and secretary of state to take steps to recognise India as America’s major defence partner

NDAA 2017 enhances security cooperation between US and India.

It also asks the administration to designate an individual within the executive branch who has the experience in defence acquisition and technology to reinforce and ensure, through inter-agency policy coordination, the success of the Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship and resolve remaining issues impeding US India defence trade, security cooperation and co-production and co-development opportunities.

The NDAA among other things, creates a USD 1.2 billion counter ISIL Fund imposing four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for USD 400 million of the USD 900 million of the coalition support fund.

US Defence Secretary will also need to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting terror havens and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Islamabad has taken steps to demonstrate the commitment to prevent the Haqqani network from using any of its territory as a safe haven.

Earlier in 2016, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter refused to give similar certification to Pakistan due to which it was not given USD 300 million under coalition support fund.

Pakistan has declared a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing according to the Deputy Permanent representative to the UN Nabeel Munir.

The states should prevent WMDs proliferation to states as well as non-state actors, according to Munir at the UNSC debate.

Listing the steps taken by Pakistan to fulfil its non-proliferation obligations, he stated that Pakistan has elaborated and implemented a comprehensive export control regime harmonised with the NSG/Nuclear Suppliers Group and MTCR/Missile Technology Control Regime.

The Pakistani representative also said the country has been forthcoming on translating this into a bilateral arrangement on non testing with India.

He also added that Pakistan’s credentials clearly establish its eligibility to become an NSG member.

The grant of waivers to long held proliferation norms and rule carries obvious proliferation risks and undermines regional strategic stability.

The Pakistani representative also said an equitable, non discriminatory and criteria based approach to promote civil nuclear cooperation and membership of export control regimes in particular of the NSG is adopted.

Chagai I

• Country: Pakistan
• Test site: Ras Koh, Pakistan
• Period: 1998
• Number of tests: 1
• Test type: underground tunnel
• Max. yield: 32 kilotonnes of TNT (130 TJ)
• Next test series: Chagai II

To enhance bilateral ties between the two nations, India and Vietnam on 9^th Dec 2016 signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi.

This agreement also marked the visit of President of Vietnam’s National Assembly Nhuyen Thi Kim Ngan. Ngan is the first woman to head the National Assembly of Vietnam.

This is the second nuclear pact signed by India within a month.

In Nov 2016, India signed a similar civil nuclear agreement with Japan.

Vietnam is the 14th nation India has signed a civil nuclear deal with.

Aside from the nuclear deal, the two nations signed three more agreement to enhance aviation links, to jointly work in the area of energy efficiency and promotion of parliamentary cooperation.