[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5979-S5980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, today we had this time reserved to 
discuss an amendment that I was planning to offer dealing with the 
lifting of economic sanctions on India and Pakistan. I did so in the 
belief, actually in the hope, that the bilateral relationship between 
India and Pakistan had improved in the wake of the Lahore summit. The 
summit seemed to imply that.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.

  According to Indian news agencies Indian helicopter gun ships, backed 
by MiG-17 fighter aircraft from India's air force bombed the troubled 
state of Kashmir, marking the most serious escalation of tensions on 
the Indo-Pakistani border in the last several years. As a result, I 
have reconsidered the wisdom of offering my amendment on India and 
Pakistan at this time.
  It is important that I note here today that I strongly believe in the 
long term importance of easing economic sanctions on both of these 
nations. I also believe that the United States ignores at its peril 
these two vital countries. That reality is highlighted all the more by 
yesterday's release of the Cox report on China which, if nothing else, 
has clearly shown that China is a serious threat in South Asia--not to 
speak of a threat to our fundamental values around the world--and that 
we need to broaden our relationship with India in the South Asian 
subcontinent.
  I hope to revisit this issue in the near future. Let me emphasize 
that I will not feel comfortable doing so until there is a serious de-
escalation of tension on the subcontinent.
  I just wanted to point this out and to enter into the Record an 
Associated

[[Page S5980]]

Press story about India launching airstrikes into Kashmir against 
infiltrators. I think we have a lot to learn yet about what 
specifically took place. Those details are sketchy and not coming in at 
the present time.
  I ask unanimous consent that this article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       India Launches Air Strikes in Kashmir Against Infiltrators

                            (By Arthur Max)

       Dras, India (AP).--Indian air force jets and helicopters 
     fired on suspected guerrillas in the disputed Kashmir 
     province today, marking the most serious escalation of 
     fighting in the region since India and Pakistan tested 
     nuclear weapons last year. Pakistan charged that Indian 
     aircraft bombed its territory in the raids today and an army 
     spokesman said the country is ready for ``all 
     eventualities.''
       ``We think it is a very grave escalation and Pakistan armed 
     forces reserves the right to respond,'' said Brigadier Rashid 
     Quereshi, a military spokesman told The Associated Press. 
     India said the attacks occurred solely on its own territory 
     and that they were aimed at what it called Afghan mercenaries 
     supported by Pakistani forces. The forces had moved into the 
     Indian-controlled Himalayan region earlier this month and 
     posed a threat to Indian supply lines in the Himalayan state, 
     Indian officials said.
       ``This is the start of operations and they will continue 
     until our defense forces reoccupy our territories. Any 
     escalation of this conflict will be entirely the 
     responsibility of Pakistan,'' the Defense Ministry said in a 
     statement in New Delhi.
       Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan 
     knew nothing about the infiltrators. ``No one knows where 
     they come from and who they are,'' he said.
       Quereshi said the army rejected Indian claims. He said the 
     Pakistan army suspects India wants to occupy Pakistan 
     territory in that area.
       India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over 
     Kashmir, which is divided between them by a U.N.-monitored 
     cease-fire line. More than 15,000 people have been killed in 
     fighting between rebels and security forces in Indian-held 
     Kashmir in the last 10 years.
       Pakistan and India, which were partitioned when they gained 
     independence from Britain in 1947, tested nuclear weapons in 
     May 1998, prompting fears of a nuclear arms race in the 
     subcontinent. Both countries claim all of Kashmir. India 
     accuses Pakistan of sending militants across the border.
       A Pakistani army spokesman said the Indian allegations that 
     elite troops were aiding militants was ``complete rubbish.''
       Indian Maj. Gen Joginder Jaswant Singh told reporters in 
     New Delhi that the infiltrators have taken up positions four 
     miles inside India in the Dras, Batalik, Kaksar and Mashkok 
     mountains of northern Kashmir.
       Intelligence reports, backed by photos taken by Indian 
     satellites, showed at least 600 infiltrators, Singh said. The 
     reports also said they have anti-aircraft missiles, radar, 
     snowmobiles and sophisticated communications equipment.
       The air force joined the operation because the infiltrators 
     had occupied positions at altitudes of up to 16,000 feet, 
     said Air Commodore Subash Bhojwani, director of offensive 
     operations.
       In Dras, 100 miles from the state capital of Srinagar, 
     Indian army officers said the target of today's attack was 
     some 70 infiltrators who had entrenched themselves on the 
     slopes of the snowcapped hills, looking down at Indian army 
     convoys, 2,700 feet below.
       Their command of the heights handicapped Indian soldiers 
     trying to evict them, officers told The Associated Press.
       Army officers in the area said the infiltrators must have 
     taken months to occupy the posts. They said Indian forces 
     could take three to six months to clear them.
       The attacks were carried out within Indian-occupied 
     regions, Indian Brig. Mohan Bhandari said. Troops were 
     expected to take over the intruders' positions once they 
     retreat, officials said.
       The exchange of mortar and heavy artillery fire in the 
     Kargil and Dras regions has left at least 160 people dead, 
     Bhandari said. Thousands of residents of the region have fled 
     to safe villages along the Suru River.
       The attack came a day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari 
     Vajpayee said all steps including airstrikes would be taken 
     to push back the infiltrators. Vajpayee said he warned his 
     Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to withdraw the 
     intruders in a telephone conversation Monday.

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I want to simply note again that we 
held a hearing yesterday on what is taking place in India and on 
military and political issues. The United States needs to broaden its 
relationship with India. We have a broad-based relationship with China 
which has been strained and stressed. China is an authoritarian 
country. India is a democracy. There are a number of places that we are 
sanctioning India where we don't sanction China at all. Yet these are 
comparable-sized countries. One has a democratic tradition, the other 
an authoritarian. There are a number of problems in China that we 
aren't experiencing with India.
  We need to broaden this relationship with India and with Pakistan. It 
is just that at the present time, given what has just taken place in 
the escalating of tension in this subcontinent by Indian military 
forces, I don't feel comfortable offering this amendment.
  I look forward to working in good faith with all of my colleagues to 
address the United States-South Asian relationship. I note to Members 
of the Senate that we will be holding hearings in the Foreign Relations 
Committee to look further into what we need to do in building this 
stronger relationship.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I have 10 
minutes in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator may proceed.

                          ____________________