[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     PAKISTAN'S UNACCEPTABLE POLICY

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Department of Commerce has 
identified India as one of the most important emerging markets in the 
world. India is currently opening its economy in ways that were 
unthinkable only 5 years ago.
  United States-India bilateral trade is increasing rapidly. Among 
other items, the United States is selling billion-dollar power plants 
and telecommunications equipment to India and in return India is 
selling the United States such products as clothing and computer 
software.
  It is in America's national interests to support peace, prosperity, 
and democracy in India to insure that the economic liberalization which 
we have encouraged for years stays on track. But the rapid improvements 
of the Indian economy must be accompanied by political stability. As a 
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am concerned that our 
friend and ally, India, the world's largest democracy faces a wave of 
regional political instability.
  Recently, troubling reports have surfaced which allege that India's 
neighbor, Pakistan, is covertly promoting instability in the Jammu, 
Kashmir, and Himachal regions of India. Specifically, the allegations 
assert that Pakistan is supporting anti-India Kashmiri insurgents as 
well as radical veterans of the Afghan war who engage in terrorist 
violence in the above-mentioned regions. In fact, according to the U.S. 
State Department's ``Global Report on Terrorism for 1994,'' there were 
credible reports of official Pakistani support to Kashmiri militants.
  These terrorist gangs have forced some 250,000 Kashmiri Hindu Pandits 
and approximately 50,000 Kashmiri Moslems who openly support India into 
becoming refugees in their own land. Moreover, in recent comments, 
former Prime Minister of Pakistan and current opposition leader in 
Parliament, Nawaz Sharif, threatened India with the use of nuclear 
weapons should India more directly respond to the terrorism in Kashmir 
and the other provinces.
  Such tactics can only lead to greater insecurity in both India and 
Pakistan. Should the situation deteriorate, the consequences could be 
horrible. It is important that our government immediately impress upon 
the government of Pakistan that the subversion of other states through 
state-sponsored terrorism, as recent reports suggest, is unacceptable 
policy.
  India needs to focus on domestic issues such as the environment, 
literacy, health care, and continuing its progress in economic 
liberalization. In each field much work remains to be done. Countering 
subversion and terrorism takes the attention of India off these vital 
issues. America must help India focus its attention on domestic issues. 
It is my hope that all parties in the region would attempt to arrive at 
constructive solutions to these difficult problems.

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