[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 484 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 484

     Commending the Governments of India and Pakistan for improved 
diplomatic relations between the two countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2003

 Mr. Hastings of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Commending the Governments of India and Pakistan for improved 
diplomatic relations between the two countries, and for other purposes.

Whereas India and Pakistan have been the victims of horrible terrorist attacks 
        aimed at fostering regional instability and religious strife;
Whereas disputes between India and Pakistan, such as the territorial conflict 
        regarding Kashmir and ethnic and religious discord, have resulted in the 
        deaths of thousands of innocent civilians;
Whereas an attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 led India and 
        Pakistan to the brink of war;
Whereas diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have greatly improved 
        since April 2003;
Whereas efforts by India and Pakistan to improve relations despite their many 
        disputes is laudable;
Whereas in April 2003 Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called for a 
        continuation of dialogue with Pakistan to improve relations between both 
        countries;
Whereas Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf responded to Prime Minister 
        Vajpayee's extended hand with diplomacy;
Whereas India and Pakistan have established new ambassadors to further 
        diplomatic ties between the two countries;
Whereas in July 2003 a bus link was restored between India and Pakistan to 
        further transportation, communication, and the economy;
Whereas on November 25, 2003, India and Pakistan announced a cease-fire along 
        their respective borders in Kashmir, reducing tensions and offering hope 
        for a just resolution to this territorial dispute;
Whereas on December 1, 2003, India and Pakistan announced the resumption of over 
        flight and landing rights for airlines of the two countries by January 
        1, 2004, a critical step in the efforts to restore full diplomatic 
        relations and to improve the daily lives of the citizens of the two 
        countries;
Whereas Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee has declared his intent to attend a South 
        Asian economic summit to be held in Pakistan in early January 2004;
Whereas India is the world's largest democracy and has striven to combat poverty 
        and environmental degradation, uphold human rights, and has achieved 
        major gains in economic development and production; and
Whereas India and Pakistan have demonstrated goodwill toward the United States 
        by actively assisting in the war on terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Governments of India and Pakistan for 
        improved diplomatic relations between the two countries, which 
        has increased stability in the volatile South Asian region;
            (2) applauds the specific measures adopted by the 
        Governments of India and Pakistan to improve such relations and 
        reduce tensions, such as establishing new ambassadorships, bus 
        links, air links, and a much-needed ceasefire between the two 
        countries; and
            (3) calls on India and Pakistan to continue working 
        together to solve mutual problems and to view each other as 
        regional partners rather than a threat to each other.
                                 <all>