[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1203-E1204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         FAIRNESS FOR PAKISTAN

                                 ______


                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues' provisions in the American Overseas Interests Act that 
address basic issues of fairness for Pakistan.
  I think it was the Greek poet Aeschylus who once wrote that the 
greatest wish a man could have was to live in interesting 
times. [[Page E1204]] 
  I think all of us know that we live in a time of rapid change. But as 
the United States moves forward into this new world, we can't afford to 
forget where we've been. We can't afford to leave our oldest and truest 
friends behind.
  For nearly 50 years, the United States and Pakistan have been close 
friends and allies. Even though we come from different cultures and 
have different customs, in the end we are united by our hopes and 
dreams for the future and by our deep, profound belief in democracy. 
Those values have brought us together through tough times--and they 
must sustain us now.
  However, I'm concerned that we have pushed Pakistan away from us the 
past few years.
  Mr. Speaker, I have said it before and I'll say it again: Pakistan is 
not a terrorist nation or a nuclear outlaw, and it's time we stop 
treating them as if they were.
  If we are truly going to meet the goals we all share in South Asia we 
must work with both India and Pakistan to make it happen.
  To be honest, I'm encouraged by some of the developments I have seen 
recently. Thanks to Prime Minister Bhutto's efforts at reform, over $20 
billion has been invested in Pakistan--half of which came from private 
American investors. That's more than any other time in history. In 
addition, we were all appreciative of Pakistan's efforts to work with 
us to capture Ramzi Yousef, one of the key suspects in the World Trade 
Center bombing.
  Last week, I'm also told that for the first time since 1990, the 
Pentagon has had fruitful discussions with Pakistan about our common 
defense interests in South Asia.
  And as we all know, both the White House and Congress are working 
with Pakistan to come up with ways to resolve this dispute over the 
planes. I agree with President Clinton: I don't think it's right that 
Congress keeps the money Pakistan paid for those planes. Not only have 
we kept over a billion dollars--we're actually charging Pakistan a 
$50,000 storage fee for each jet. Some in Congress have suggested that 
we should sell the planes to a third party, then give the money to 
Pakistan. But we are working on this issue now and hopefully we'll 
reach a solution in the next few months.
  But there are two other issues we should all be able to agree on. The 
Senate is working on the antiterrorism bill. But while we work for 
solutions, we can't allow people to be scapegoated on the basis of 
ethnicity or race.
  When those first reports were coming out of Oklahoma City--looking 
for three ``Middle Eastern men''--it brought back painful memories from 
the Persian Gulf war, when Moslem-Americans actually saw their homes 
being searched. As much as we all want to crack down on terrorism, we 
have to do it in such a way that doesn't hurt innocent people and 
doesn't violate constitutional rights.
  When this bill comes to the House floor--which should be in the next 
month or so--I look forward to working to make sure these concerns are 
addressed.
  I also look forward to continuing to work and to speak out on behalf 
of the people of Kashmir. By all indications, the situation in Kashmir 
isn't getting any better.
  Just last Saturday, the Indian Government canceled elections in 
Kashmir yet again--and extended its direct rule. We can't sit back as 
Indian Government security forces continue to rape, torture, and murder 
innocent women and children.
  If India hopes to have any kind of relationship with the United 
States in the future, I believe these issues must be addressed, the 
troops must be withdrawn, international observers must be allowed in, 
and the people of Kashmir must be given the opportunity to determine 
their own destiny. Because if they're not, I believe the whole issue of 
Indian aid comes into question. The world simply cannot afford to have 
two nuclear powers locked in mortal combat over disputed territory any 
longer. It's up to all of us to help solve this.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pakistani-American community has provided real 
leadership on these issues in recent years. We all live in a time of 
exciting change.
  I look forward to working to make sure that we can make that change 
work for all of us.


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