[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E666-E667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONSHIP WORTH REPAIRING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, some weeks ago I sent identical letters to 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and National Security Adviser 
Sandy Berger outlining my thoughts on some of the problems troubling 
the relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
  I have now received replies from Mr. Berger and the Department of 
State. Because I believe that Pakistan is an important country and that 
it remains very much in the American interest to repair our tattered 
relations with Pakistan, I now insert this correspondence in the 
Record.
  It is my hope that this will provoke a serious and sustained 
discussion of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

             House of Representatives, Committee on International 
                                                        Relations,
                                Washington, DC, February 19, 1998.
     Hon. Madelein K. Albright,
     Secretary of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Madeleine: Knowing that the President intends to visit 
     South Asia later this year, I have been giving some thought 
     to the United States' relationship with Pakistan, 
     particularly, the F-16 problem and other bilateral issues.
       First, I am concerned that it may not be possible to have a 
     successful presidential trip to Pakistan if we have not made 
     any progress in addressing the F-16 issue.
       You will recall that in 1995, President Clinton, meeting 
     with then Prime Minister Bhutto, noted the apparent 
     unfairness of the U.S. refusal to either provide Pakistan 
     with the F-16s it had bought or refund the money paid for the 
     aircraft.
       If, three years later, no progress has been made in 
     resolving this issue, this will cast a cloud over the 
     President's trip to Pakistan and preclude the resumption of 
     anything approaching a normal relationship between the two 
     countries.
       Moreover, should Pakistan take the United States to court 
     over this issue (as it is now considering), this would 
     materially diminish the likelihood of a successful 
     presidential visit and otherwise damage U.S.-Pakistan 
     relations.
       None of the obvious solutions for resolving this problem 
     appear viable. Congress is unlikely to repeal the Pressler 
     amendment, or to appropriate the approximately $500 million 
     we owe Pakistan for the F-16s. Nor does anyone hold out much 
     hope for finding alternative buyers for these planes, which 
     would enable us to use monies from that sale to reimburse 
     Pakistan.
       I understand there is some talk about the possibility of 
     using a 614 waiver to permit the administration to transfer 
     the F-16s to Pakistan, notwithstanding the Pressler amendment 
     restrictions. I would strongly oppose this idea because of 
     the adverse effect it would almost surely have on the 
     credibility of our global nonproliferation policies and on 
     our gradually warming relationship with India. I also expect 
     that an administration attempt to use a 614 waiver in this 
     instance would draw considerable opposition on the Hill.
       Since none of the obvious solutions appear feasible, I 
     would urge you to look into less obvious ways to deal with 
     this problem. I understand, for instance, that some people 
     are talking about debt forgiveness, where we would write off 
     a portion of Pakistan's P.L. 480 or other debt in return for 
     Pakistan waiving all claims against the United States 
     stemming from the F-16 sale. This appears to be an idea worth 
     exploring further.
       Alternatively, I understand there is some discussion of 
     linking the $500 million owed Pakistan for the aircraft to a 
     resumption of an USAID program tailored specifically to meet 
     Pakistan's grave problems in the social sector. Under this 
     proposal, Congress would authorize the President to enter 
     into negotiations with Pakistan with a view to arriving at a 
     reasonable compromise figure--perhaps in the neighborhood of 
     $250 million--that would be provided Pakistan, over a number 
     of years, in return for Pakistan dropping all F-16 related 
     claims against the United States. Even $250 million is a 
     considerable sum, but members of Congress might be swayed by 
     the fairness argument so long as the planes were not being 
     transferred, if much of this sum could be portrayed as 
     traditional U.S. foreign assistance designed to meet basic 
     human needs, and if the annual U.S. aid allotments were in 
     the $40-50 million range.
       The purpose of this letter is not to advocate a specific 
     solution, but to draw your attention to this matter, and to 
     encourage you to redouble your efforts to ensure that the F-
     16 controversy does not derail the President's trip later 
     this year.
       I also believe your legal experts need to look at the 
     specific consequences, if any, should Pakistan take the 
     United States to court over the F-16s. I am told that at 
     least some legal experts believe that a number of U.S. 
     programs and sales would have to be shut down as soon as 
     Pakistan files suit. I do not know if this is correct. If it 
     is, Pakistan should be made aware of this at the earliest 
     possible date, to ensure that Pakistan understands fully that 
     bringing suit against the United States will adversely affect 
     its own interests.
       I would also urge you to investigate means by which 
     Pakistan could be relieved of the obligation for paying 
     storage fees for the F-16s we currently hold. Our insistence 
     on forcing Pakistan to pay an annual storage charge for our 
     refusal to transfer the planes costs the United States far 
     more in ill will than it brings in revenue to the U.S. 
     Treasury.
       On a second issue in our bilateral relations, I urge you to 
     seek legislative approval for resuming an IMET program in 
     Pakistan. As you no doubt recall, the Senate approved such a 
     provision last year, but it was dropped in conference, 
     without the House ever considering the issue. While the 
     monetary value of such a program is small, I believe 
     resumption of this program would be perceived in Pakistan as 
     a good will gesture and a manifestation of the United States' 
     desire to rebuild the bilateral relationship.
       Finally, while U.S. military training is an important tool 
     for promoting American interests, I believe that the 
     administration should place greater emphasis on helping 
     Pakistan, within the restrictions of U.S. law, to begin to 
     address some of its urgent domestic problems.
       For instance, current law permits some population planning 
     assistance for Pakistan. Programs of this sort should be 
     encouraged. The administration should also renew its efforts 
     to secure congressional approval for the democracy-building 
     components of the Harkin amendment that failed in conference 
     last fall.
       Ultimately, the most serious threats to Pakistan are 
     internal, not external. If we value our ties with Pakistan--
     and I believe we should--it would seem to be in the U.S. 
     interest to help Pakistan address these threats, rather than 
     encouraging Islamabad to divert scarce resources into 
     nonproductive channels.
       I would be pleased to discuss these matters with you in 
     more detail if you would like.
       With best wishes,
           Sincerely,
                                                  Lee H. Hamilton,
     Ranking Democratic Member.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, March 16, 1998.
     Hon. Lee H. Hamilton,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Lee: Thank you for your very thoughtful letter 
     regarding our relationship with Pakistan. As we prepare for 
     the President's trip to South Asia this Fall, we are very 
     appreciative of your insights on the important bilateral 
     issues that complicate our relationship with that country.
       Your views on the F-16 issue were of particular interest. 
     The President fully shares your opinion on the importance of 
     resolving this issue and on the impact it has on our 
     bilateral relationship. I am encouraged by your helpful 
     comments and we will give careful consideration to your 
     suggestions of debt relief and a focused resumption of our 
     USAID program as we review the full range of options in the 
     weeks ahead.
       I am also encouraged that you have urged the Administration 
     to seek legislation to reestablish the IMET program in 
     Pakistan. We continue to see IMET as an important vehicle for 
     strengthening our ties with Pakistan and will examine how we 
     might best go about seeking congressional support.
       Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. We will consult 
     closely with you and your colleagues as we seek solutions to 
     these vexing problems.
           Sincerely,

                                              Samuel R. Berger

                                        Assistant to the President
                                    for National Security Affairs.

[[Page E667]]

     
                                                                    ____
                                          Department of State,

                                   Washington, DC, April 15, 1998.
     Hon. Lee H. Hamilton,
     House of Representatives.
       Dear Mr. Hamilton: The Secretary has asked that I respond 
     on her behalf to your letter of February 19 concerning our 
     relations with Pakistan.
       It is the Department's desire to improve our relationship 
     and advance our long term interests with Pakistan. Like you, 
     we believe the best way to do this is to resolve the F-16 
     issue while enhancing bilateral ties in other areas.
       The Department is currently examining the merits of the 
     full range of alternatives for resolving the F-16 issue. We 
     fully appreciate that failure to settle this matter could 
     harm bilateral relations and may precipitate a lawsuit. You 
     may be certain that we will keep your views about debt relief 
     and economic assistance very much in mind as we proceed.
       We strongly agree with your assessment about the importance 
     of IMET and democracy building for Pakistan and intend to 
     seek legislative authorization to reinstitute these programs.
       We also appreciate knowing of your judgment that the most 
     serious threats facing Pakistan are internal. We agree that 
     such matters as a stagnant economy and ineffective 
     educational system are critical to Pakistan's long-term 
     development and stability. Consequently, we have devoted 
     increasing attention to helping Islamabad address these 
     problems.
       We greatly appreciate your interest in improving ties with 
     Pakistan and look forward to working with you on all matters 
     raised in your letter.
           Sincerely,

                                               Barbara Larkin,

                                              Assistant Secretary,
                                              Legislative Affairs.

     

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