[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TERRORISM IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 1998

  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern for 
the ongoing situation in the city of Peshawar in the Northwest Frontier 
territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. For the past decade, 
Peshawar has been the breeding ground for terrorism and religious 
extremism. Peshawar is the unfortunate home to the infamous ``Jihad 
University'', a training camp where young men are forcibly molded into 
hardened terrorists. After completing their ``studies'' the 
``graduates'' of ``Jihad University'' are then sent across Pakistan's 
border to spread death and destruction on Pakistan's neighbors.
  For the past decade, people living in India's northern-most state of 
Jammu and Kashmir and its western state of Punjab have been victims of 
bombings, assassinations, and other deadly actions. Similarly, 
terrorists from Peshawar have been sent west from Pakistan into 
neighboring Afghanistan to join the Taliban forces. Mr. Speaker, the 
Tabilan rule most part of Afghanistan in one of the most repressive 
regimes on earth.
  ``Graduates'' of Jihad University also have made their way to the 
United States. Those convicted of the World Trade Center bombings are 
believed to have been trained in Peshawar.
  Mr. Speaker, we now learn that Pakistan's neighbor to the northwest, 
Uzbekistan, has also been the victim of Peshawar's terrorist tentacles. 
On February 16th of this year, Abdulaziz Kamilov, the Foreign Minister 
of Uzbekistan, held a special briefing in Tashkent to discuss the 
serious threats emanating from Peshawar. According to Minister Kamilov, 
more than 400 young people from Uzbekistan are undergoing ``special 
training'' on ``different forms of terrorist activity at special camps 
located in Peshawar.'' Upon completion of their trainings according to 
Minister Kamilov, ``these so-called students get back to Uzbekistan 
illegally . . . with a view of carrying out illegal subversive 
activities.'' Minister Kamilov also noted that special training centers 
have been established in Islamabad, Mardon, and Karachi.
  Mr. Speaker, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have historically enjoyed good 
relations. Both are Muslim countries. Minister Kamilov pointed out that 
his government believes these terrorist activities originating in 
Pakistan are ``carried out without knowledge of official authorities in 
Pakistan.'' Indeed, Minister Kamilov said his government has concluded 
that these activities are ``beyond the control of the concerned 
governmental bodies there'' and the Ministry found it necessary to 
bring this grave matter to the attention of the Pakistani Government.
  Mr. Speaker, Pakistan has long been a source of terrorism throughout 
South and Central Asia. Many governments, including our own, have 
repeatedly stated that they do not believe Pakistan has an official 
involvement with these terrorist organizations in Peshawar or other 
locations in Pakistan. Yet, these militant cells continue to operate 
openly with impunity. It is long past time for the Government of 
Pakistan to eliminate the terrorist gangs within its own borders. 
Continued failure to do so can only lead to the conclusion that the 
Government of Pakistan is much more than an innocent bystander