The United States has passed a defence bill that promises $900-million (Rs 6,121 crore approximately) assistance to Pakistan. The US National Defence Authorisation Act was passed by the House of Representative on Friday. A large portion of the aid pledged to Islamabad in the Bill will depend on Pentagon’s certificate about the Nawaz Sharif government’s steps against terrorism, mainly the Afghan guerrilla insurgent group Haqqani network, reported PTI.

Around $450 million (Rs 3,060 crore approximately) of the total assistance promised to Islamabad will be reimbursed only after a certificate from the defence secretary about Pakistan’s measures taken against terror activities in the region, reported Dawn. The Bill notes that “the United States and Pakistan continue to have many critical shared interests, both economic- and security-related, which could be the foundation for a positive and mutually beneficial partnership.” The Bill will go for a vote in the US Senate next week.

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain said the Bill “refocuses security assistance to Pakistan on activities that directly support US national security interests”. The US stopped $300-million (Rs 2,040 crore approximately) reimbursement to Pakistan for the previous financial year after Defence Secretary Ash Carter refused to give the requisite certificate about the country’s initiatives to fight terror, Reuters reported.