Bill moved in US Congress to scrap Pakistan’s status as NonNato ally
ammunition of the IS terrorists in the area of Aqirbat in the Hama province,” it said.
The ministry added that Russian planes then carried out aerial strikes that “destroyed the remainder of the IS fighters and their facilities”.
The most recent such strikes were announced by the ministry on May 31, aimed at targets around Palmyra.
The defence ministry on Friday said that IS this week has been moving forces into Hama province under cover of night. The likelihood that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed is close to 100%, Interfax news agency quoted the head of the defence committee in Russia’s upper parliamentary house as saying on Friday.
Viktor Ozerov was quoted as saying the defence ministry would not have released information about Baghdadi’s death if it believed it could be later proved incorrect.
Two American lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives, seeking to revoke Pakistan’s status as a major nonNato ally (MNNA) to the US .
Pakistan was granted MNNA status in 2004 by then President George Bush in an effort to get the country to help the US fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
“Pakistan must be held accountable for the American blood on its hands,” said Republican Congressman Ted Poe, who introduced the bill along with Democrat Rick Nolan.
Under MNNA, a country is eligible for priority delivery of defence materials, an expedited arms sale process and a US loan guarantee programme, which backs up loans issued by private banks to finance arms exports.
It can also stockpile US military hardware, participate in defence research and development programmes and be sold more sophisticated weaponry.