[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN CALLS ON PAKISTAN TO RECOGNIZE KHALISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 1998

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, recently the Council of Kahlistan, which 
leads the struggle to liberate the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Khalistan, 
from Indian rule, recently wrote an open letter to the people and 
government of Pakistan urging Pakistan to recognize Khalistan to stop 
India from achieving hegemony in South Asia.
  The letter pointed out that two leaders of the ruling BJP recently 
called for Pakistan and Bangladesh to become part of India. It has been 
fifty years since India and Pakistan achieved their independence, 
agreeing to partition at that time. For leaders of the ruling party to 
call for that agreement to be undone reveals India's imperialist aims 
in the region. The atrocities committed against the Sikhs, the 
Christians of Nagaland, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Dalits (``black 
untouchables,'' the aboriginal people of the subcontinent), and so many 
others also show India's drive to establish Hindu Raj throughout South 
Asia.
  An independent Khalistan can serve as a buffer to prevent war between 
India and Pakistan. Khalistan is committed to freedom, denuclearization 
in South Asia, and economic cooperation to assure prosperity for all. 
It is time for the United States to promote freedom, peace, stability, 
and prosperity in South Asia by supporting a free and fair vote on the 
political status of Khalistan and for Pakistan to recognize the 
legitimate aspirations of the people of Khalistan, Nagaland, and all 
the nations of South Asia.
  I am putting the Council of Khalistan's open letter into the Record.

                                         Council of Khalistan,

                                    Washington, DC, April 8, 1998.

An Open Letter to the People and Government of Pakistan: To Stop Indian 
                     Hegemony, Recognize Khalistan

     To the people and Government of Pakistan:
       Your recent missile test is an unfortunate reminder of the 
     tensions in South Asia. While it was a necessary response to 
     India's drive to establish its hegemony over South Asia, it 
     is still an unfortunate event. We all hope that South Asia 
     will not once again erupt into a war.
       India's drive for hegemony shows in the recent statement by 
     two BJP leaders that Pakistan and Bangladesh should become 
     part of India. It shows in India's military buildup. And it 
     shows in India's ongoing repression of the minorities living 
     within its artificial borders. It has already murdered over 
     250,000 Sikhs since 1984. It has murdered almost 60,000 
     Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, over 200,000 Christians in 
     Nagaland since 1947, and tens of thousands of Assamese, 
     Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits (``black untouchables,'' the 
     aboriginal people of South Asia), and others.
       You can help to end India's drive for hegemony by 
     recognizing Khalistan. Your recognition will be a major boost 
     of the movement to bring freedom to the oppressed Sikh 
     Nation. It will also carry strategic advantages for you, as 
     Khalistan can serve as a buffer between you and India. If 
     there is a war, Sikhs will not fight for India. The Sikh 
     Nation can also use the fact the over 60 percent of India's 
     grain comes from Punjab, Khalistan to deter India from 
     pursuing its dream of Hindu Raj throughout South Asia. I ask 
     you to recognize Khalistan immediately. We seek to establish 
     an Embassy in Islamabad and four consulates in Lahore, 
     Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetter.
       Khalistan is committed to the denuclearization of South 
     Asia and to the establishment of a South Asian common market 
     to bring greater economic prosperity to all the countries of 
     South Asia. Khalistan will also sign a 100-year friendship 
     and defense treaty with Pakistan. Only the liberation of 
     Khalistan and the other oppressed nations of South Asia will 
     bring true peace and stability to the subcontinent.
       The Indian government has been talking to Naga leaders 
     about the status of Nagaland. Yet India has failed to live up 
     to its obligations under the 1948 U.N. resolution in which it 
     agreed to a plebiscite in Kashmir and it has refused to hold 
     a free and fair plebiscite in Punjab, Khalistan. India is not 
     one country. It is a collection of many nations thrown 
     together by the British for their administrative convenience. 
     The collapse of India's brutal, corrupt empire is inevitable. 
     By recognizing Khalistan, you can help bring that about 
     sooner and help bring freedom, democracy, peace, and 
     prosperity to South Asia. I call upon the people and 
     government of Pakistan to take this step immediately.
           Sincerely,

                                      Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

                                                        President,
                                             Council of Khalistan.

     

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