Sec. 7044. south and central asia
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## SEC. 7044 south and central asia ###
(a)Afghanistan ####
(1)Restriction None of the funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for Afghanistan may be made available for assistance to the Taliban. ####
(2)Afghan students Funds appropriated by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs shall be made available to— #####
(A)support the higher education of students from Afghanistan studying outside of the country, including the costs of reimbursement to institutions hosting such students, as appropriate: * Provided,* That the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, as appropriate, shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations prior to the initial obligation of funds for such purposes; and #####
(B)provide modified learning opportunities for women and girls in Afghanistan, including but not limited to, efforts to expand internet access, online schooling, and distribution of educational content. ####
(3)Afghan women #####
(A)Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading “Economic Support Fund” that are made available for assistance for Afghanistan, not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available for programs to investigate and document human rights abuses against women in Afghanistan: * Provided*, That such funds shall be the responsibility of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, following consultation with the Committees on Appropriations. #####
(B)Funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for Afghanistan shall be made available for a program for Afghan women-led organizations to support education, human rights, and economic livelihoods in Afghanistan: * Provided,* That such program shall be co-designed by women in Afghanistan. ####
(4)Report Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing plans, consistent with the restriction contained in paragraph (1), to— #####
(A)protect and strengthen the rights of Afghan women and girls; #####
(B)support higher education programs, including continued support for the American University of Afghanistan’s
(AUAF)online programs and support for other higher education institutions in South Asia and the Middle East that are hosting AUAF and other Afghan students; #####
(C)support Afghan civil society activists, journalists, and independent media, including in third countries; and #####
(D)support health, education, including community-based education, and other programs to address the basic needs of the people of Afghanistan. ###
(b)Pakistan ####
(1)Limitation Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading “Foreign Military Financing Program” that are made available for assistance for Pakistan may only be made available to support counterterrorism and counterinsurgency capabilities in Pakistan. ####
(2)Withholding Of the funds appropriated under titles III and IV of this Act that are made available for assistance for Pakistan, $33,000,000 shall be withheld from obligation until the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that Dr. Shakil Afridi has been released from prison and cleared of all charges relating to the assistance provided to the United States in locating Osama bin Laden. ###
(c)Sri Lanka ####
(1)Assistance Funds appropriated under title III of this Act shall be made available for assistance for Sri Lanka for democracy and economic development programs, particularly in areas recovering from ethnic and religious conflict. ####
(2)Certification Funds appropriated by this Act for assistance for the central Government of Sri Lanka may be made available only if the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such Government is taking effective and consistent steps to— #####
(A)protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Sri Lanka regardless of ethnicity and religious belief, including by investigating violations of human rights and the laws of war and holding perpetrators of such violations accountable; #####
(B)implement the necessary political, economic, military, and legal reforms to enable economic recovery and to prevent conflict and future economic crises; #####
(C)increase transparency and accountability in governance and combat corruption, including bringing to justice public officials who have engaged in significant acts of corruption; #####
(D)assert its sovereignty against influence by the People’s Republic of China; and #####
(E)promote reconciliation between ethnic and religious groups, particularly arising from past conflict in Sri Lanka, as described under this section in House Report 118-146: *Provided,* That the limitations of this paragraph shall not apply to funds made available for humanitarian assistance and disaster response; to protect human rights, locate and identify missing persons, and assist victims of torture and trauma; to promote justice, accountability, and reconciliation; to enhance maritime security and domain awareness; to promote fiscal transparency and sovereignty; and for International Military Education and Training. ####
(3)Limitation Funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for the Sri Lankan armed forces may only be made available for— #####
(A)international peacekeeping operations training; #####
(B)humanitarian assistance and disaster response; #####
(C)instruction in human rights and related curricula development; #####
(D)maritime security and domain awareness, including professionalization and training for the navy and coast guard; and #####
(E)programs and activities under the heading “International Military Education and Training”. ####
(4)Consultation Funds made available for assistance for Sri Lanka for international peacekeeping operations training shall be subject to prior consultation with the Committees on Appropriations.