[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 388 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 388

  Recognizing that the plight of Kashmiri Pandits has been an ongoing 
  concern since 1989 and that their physical, political, and economic 
security should be safeguarded by the Government of India and the state 
                    government of Jammu and Kashmir.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2006

   Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Ackerman, and Mr. 
   Gordon) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing that the plight of Kashmiri Pandits has been an ongoing 
  concern since 1989 and that their physical, political, and economic 
security should be safeguarded by the Government of India and the state 
                    government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Whereas Jammu and Kashmir has an ancient culture of religious tolerance and 
        pluralism, and Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians were 
        able to practice their faith in an atmosphere of mutual respect and 
        peace until 1989;
Whereas Kashmiri Pandits are the original inhabitants of Kashmir, tracing their 
        heritage and culture back several millennia;
Whereas Kashmiri Pandits have been the victims of a sustained ethnic cleansing 
        campaign initiated in 1989 by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, which 
        forced a mass exodus of Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom now 
        live in Indian refugee camps;
Whereas the Kashmiri Pandit population has declined from 400,000 in 1989 to a 
        current level of only 8,000;
Whereas international human rights organizations have failed to accurately 
        report the campaign of intimidation and violence directed against 
        Kashmiri Pandits;
Whereas hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit civilians, elected officials, and military 
        personnel have been killed in terrorist attacks; and
Whereas Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e Tayyiba, which are 
        Pakistan-based terrorist groups and have been designated by the 
        Department of State as foreign terrorist organizations, are seeking to 
        drive out Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir and fight the security 
        forces of the Government of India: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) condemns the human rights violations committed against 
        Kashmiri Pandits;
            (2) urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of 
        Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism by dismantling the 
        infrastructure for terrorist activities on territory under its 
        control, so that all Kashmiris can live, work, and worship in 
        peace; and
            (3) encourages the Government of the Republic of India and 
        the state government of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that 
        Kashmiri Pandits are treated with respect and dignity and are 
        able to safely return to Kashmir.
                                 <all>