[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 138 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 138

                  Relating to the conflict in Kashmir.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                June 21 (legislative day, June 19), 1995

    Mr. Helms (for himself, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Leahy) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                  Relating to the conflict in Kashmir.
Whereas United States policy calls for a solution to the conflict in Kashmir 
        through negotiations between India and Pakistan taking into account the 
        wishes of the Kashmiri people, and further states that it is up to the 
        Kashmiri people to choose legitimate representatives to negotiate on 
        their behalf;
Whereas India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir and tensions in the 
        region remain high;
Whereas both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons programs and possess 
        sophisticated means to deliver such weapons;
Whereas reports indicate widespread human rights abuses in Kashmir, resulting 
        from the excessive use of force by Indian military and paramilitary 
        forces and acts of violence by Kashmiri militants;
Whereas the Indian parliament did not renew the Terrorists and Disruptive 
        Activities Act, thereby improving prospects for the rule of law in 
        Kashmir;
Whereas the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference was organized to engage in 
        negotiations with Indian and Pakistani authorities without precondition;
Whereas in January 1994 the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) brought 
        together representatives from India, Pakistan, and Kashmir to engage in 
        a dialogue for peace;
Whereas the USIP concluded that, ``It is essential that people of Jammu and 
        Kashmir be central participants in this political process, along with 
        the governments and citizens of India and Pakistan.''; and
Whereas the recent destruction of the mosque and the razing of the town of 
        Charar-i-Sharief in Kashmir have reinforced the urgent need for such a 
        dialogue: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the use of excessive force by Indian military 
        and paramilitary forces in Kashmir and similarly condemns acts 
        of violence by Kashmiri militants;
            (2) welcomes the release from detention of Kashmiri 
        political leaders and urges that the Government of India take 
        further steps to respond to human rights concerns, including--
                    (A) prosecuting security personnel involved in 
                abuses of human rights;
                    (B) permitting international human rights groups 
                such as Amnesty International access to Kashmir; and
                    (C) permitting international humanitarian groups 
                access to detention and interrogation centers in 
                Kashmir;
            (3) welcomes the expiration of the Terrorist and Disruptive 
        Activities Act and urges the Government of India to take 
        further steps to safeguard the Kashmiri people's right to due 
        process;
            (4) welcomes steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to 
        reduce its support for Kashmiri militants, and urges the 
        Government of Pakistan to take further steps, including using 
        its influence with private Pakistani sources, to stop the acts 
        of intimidation and violence by Kashmiri militants;
            (5) calls on the Government of India and Pakistan to enter 
        into negotiations with legitimate representatives of the people 
        of Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the conflict peacefully; and
            (6) urges the Administration to work to facilitate 
        negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in 
        Kashmir.
                                 <all>