Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§8423 Limitations on Certain Assistance

Title 22 › CHAPTER 91 — ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP WITH PAKISTAN › SUBCHAPTER II — SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR PAKISTAN › § 8423

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Stops most U.S. security aid to Pakistan in certain years unless the Secretary of State, following the President, makes a written certification to Congress. For fiscal years 2011–2014 no security-related aid can be given, and for fiscal years 2012–2014 no offers or export licenses for major defense equipment can be issued, until that certification is made. The certification must say Pakistan is helping to break up networks that seek nuclear materials (including giving information or access to Pakistanis tied to those networks), showed in the prior year a steady and strong effort to fight terrorist groups (including ending any support from parts of its military or intelligence services, stopping al Qaeda, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed from operating or launching cross-border attacks, closing camps in the FATA, dismantling bases such as Quetta and Muridke, acting on intelligence about high-level targets, and improving counterterrorism and anti-money-laundering laws), and that Pakistan’s security forces are not seriously undermining its political or judicial systems. Money appropriated for security aid for fiscal years 2010–2014 (and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund) may not be used to make payments tied to three specific Letters of Offer and Acceptance (PK–D–YAD, PK–D–NAP, PK–D–SAF, all signed September 30, 2006), though those funds may pay for construction work under those letters. The Secretary of State, under the President’s direction, may waive these limits if it is important to U.S. national security, but must wait 7 days after giving written notice to the listed congressional committees before using the waiver. Appropriate congressional committees: House — Committee on Foreign Affairs; Committee on Armed Services; Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Senate — Committee on Foreign Relations; Committee on Armed Services; Select Committee on Intelligence.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §8423

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Limitation on security-related assistance
For fiscal years 2011 through 2014, no security-related assistance may be provided to Pakistan in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, makes the certification required under subsection (c) for such fiscal year.
(b)Limitation on arms transfers
For fiscal years 2012 through 2014, no letter of offer to sell major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) and no license to export major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to such Act in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, makes the certification required under subsection (c) for such fiscal year.
(c)Certification
The certification required by this subsection is a certification by the Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, to the appropriate congressional committees that—
(1)the Government of Pakistan is continuing to cooperate with the United States in efforts to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, such as providing relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks;
(2)the Government of Pakistan during the preceding fiscal year has demonstrated a sustained commitment to and is making significant efforts towards combating terrorist groups, consistent with the purposes of assistance described in section 8421 of this title, including taking into account the extent to which the Government of Pakistan has made progress on matters such as—
(A)ceasing support, including by any elements within the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency, to extremist and terrorist groups, particularly to any group that has conducted attacks against United States or coalition forces in Afghanistan, or against the territory or people of neighboring countries;
(B)preventing al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from operating in the territory of Pakistan, including carrying out cross-border attacks into neighboring countries, closing terrorist camps in the FATA, dismantling terrorist bases of operations in other parts of the country, including Quetta and Muridke, and taking action when provided with intelligence about high-level terrorist targets; and
(C)strengthening counterterrorism and anti-money laundering laws; and
(3)the security forces of Pakistan are not materially and substantially subverting the political or judicial processes of Pakistan.
(d)Certain payments
(1)In general
Subject to paragraph (2), none of the funds appropriated for security-related assistance for fiscal years 2010 through 2014, or any amounts appropriated to the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund established under the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32), may be obligated or expended to make payments relating to—
(A)the Letter of Offer and Acceptance PK–D–YAD signed between the Governments of the United States of America and Pakistan on September 30, 2006;
(B)the Letter of Offer and Acceptance PK–D–NAP signed between the Governments of the United States of America and Pakistan on September 30, 2006; and
(C)the Letter of Offer and Acceptance PK–D–SAF signed between the Governments of the United States of America and Pakistan on September 30, 2006.
(2)Exception
Funds appropriated for security-related assistance for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 may be used for construction and related activities carried out pursuant to the Letters of Offer and Acceptance described in paragraph (1).
(e)Waiver
(1)In general
The Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, may waive the limitations contained in subsections (a), (b), and (d) for a fiscal year if the Secretary of State determines that is important to the national security interests of the United States to do so.
(2)Prior notice of waiver
The Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, may not exercise the authority of paragraph (1) until 7 days after the Secretary of State provides to the appropriate congressional committees a written notice of the intent to issue to waiver and the reasons therefor. The notice may be submitted in classified or unclassified form, as necessary.
(f)Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
(1)the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(2)the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Arms Export Control Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 90–629, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1320, which is classified principally to chapter 39 (§ 2751 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2751 of this title and Tables. The Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), is Pub. L. 111–32, June 24, 2009, 123 Stat. 1859. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 8423

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110