[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E308-E309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                LEGISLATION REGARDING INDIA AND PAKISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H. Res. 84, 
legislation recognizing the recent achievements of the Republic of 
India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in fostering peaceful 
relations between the two nations.
  This past week, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India 
courageously crossed the long tense Punjabi border to visit his 
Pakistani host and counterpart, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This 
visit, the first by an Indian premier to Pakistan in ten years, was 
only the third such visit since Partition in 1947. Prime Minister 
Vajpayee refused to cancel his trip despite a recent horrific and 
despicable terrorist attack in Jammu killing 20 civilians.
  During their summit, the two leaders signed the ``Lahore 
Declaration,'' which commits India and Pakistan to reaching universal 
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and reaffirms there 
commitment not to conduct future nuclear tests. In this agreement, the 
parties have also agreed to engage in bilateral consultations on 
security, disarmament, and nonproliferation issues and have issued a 
condemnation of terrorism.
  Since Partition, India and Pakistan, together the home of more than 
one-fifth of the world's population, have fought three wars against 
each other. The conflict in Kasmir has cost 30,000 to 50,000 civilian 
lives.
  H. Res. 84 praises this positive step taken by the leadership of 
India and Pakistan in resolving the differences of these two 
neighboring countries, sharing so much history and culture, through 
diplomacy and celebrates this small victory for dialogue. Accordingly, 
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 84. I request the full text of 
H. Res. 84, be printed in the Record at this point.

                               H. Res.--

       Whereas on February 22, 1999, the Prime Minister of India 
     and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 
     signed the ``Lahore Declaration'' to develop and secure a 
     durable peace and to develop harmonious relations and 
     friendly cooperation between the two nations;
       Whereas the Lahore Declaration states and affirms the 
     commitment of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic 
     of Pakistan to the objective of universal nuclear disarmament 
     and non-proliferation;

[[Page E309]]

       Whereas the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to continue to 
     abide by their respective unilateral moratorium on conducting 
     further nuclear test explosions;
       Whereas the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan have agreed to take immediate steps to reduce the 
     risk of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons;
       Whereas the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan have agreed to commence bilateral consultations on 
     security, disarmament and non-proliferation issues within the 
     context of negotiations on these issues in multilateral form; 
     and
       Whereas the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan have reaffirmed their condemnation of terrorism in 
     all its forms and manifestations and their determination to 
     combat this menace: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the significance and importance of the 
     Lahore Declaration as a step toward durable peace and the 
     development of harmonious relations and friendly cooperation 
     between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan; and
       (2) supports the commitment of the Republic of India and 
     the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to universal nuclear 
     disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful regional 
     relations.

     

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