[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1614-E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           KASHMIR VIGILANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express support for the recent 
developments regarding the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir in India. Last 
November a large body of Pakistani troops from its Northern Light 
Infantry Regiment and Pakistani-backed terrorists crossed the Line of 
Control into Jammu and Kashmir, forcefully occupying key Indian 
military posts abandoned for the winter season. When the Indian Armed 
forces earlier this year attempted to return to their military posts, 
they were met with fierce Pakistani resistance and opposition.
  Faced with this opposition, India then took restrained military 
action to regain its territory occupied by the terrorists and Pakistani 
military forces. By adopting a proper, proportionate response to the 
incursion, India took steps to ensure that the situation did not spin 
out of control and escalate further.
  Most of the international community agree that Pakistan crossed into 
Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to alter the Line of Control to 
Pakistan's advantage and to internationalize the issue.
  Pakistan soon discovered that the international community did not 
support those ambitions. The United States and its allies, including 
the G-8 nations, condemned the incursion across the Line of Control 
into India, and called for an immediate end to the hostilities, 
restoration of the Line of Control, and future respect for the Line of 
Control.
  A resolution sponsored by a bipartisan majority of the House 
International Relations Committee and myself, two weeks ago, in part 
expressed the sense of the Congress that it should be the policy of the 
United States to (1) support the immediate withdrawal of intruding 
forces supported by Pakistan from the Indian side of the Line of 
Control, (2) urge the reestablishment and future respect for the line 
of Control, and (3) to encourage all sides to end the fighting and 
exercise restraint. The Resolution further expressed the sense of the 
Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to encourage 
both India and Pakistan to adhere to the principles of the Lahore 
Declaration.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the President personally communicated 
this to Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif and that Pakistan is now in the 
process of withdrawing its forces from the Indian side of the Line of 
Control. This should be a message to Pakistan that the international 
community will not tolerate its military or financial support to any 
aggression.
  This is an issue that India and Pakistan must resolve bilaterally. I 
am pleased to see that the United States, consistent with its past 
policy, has said it would not mediate this issue. I urge the U.S. to 
maintain this position.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge both Nations to work toward rebuilding the trust 
that has been lost as a result of the fighting at the LOC, and to work 
toward full implementation of the Lahore Declaration. Without this 
trust, there can be no ``true'' agreement to go forward with the Lahore 
process.
  While we welcome the decision of the Sharif Government to end the 
hostilities across the Line of Control into India by ordering the 
withdrawal of the invading forces, we will keep a keen eye on the 
situation in the weeks ahead to maker caution that all of the 
conditions will be met. Pakistan must dismantle the structures for 
training militants for disrupting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, and to 
maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control, not only in Kargil, but 
throughout Jammu and Kashmir, India. In addition, Pakistan must stop 
its support for cross-border terrorism against India.
  The Resolution that I introduced, while appropriate at the time, 
should serve as an expression of Congressional concern. Should we see a 
recurrence by Pakistan of the events of the past weeks, or other subtle 
or indirect acts that once again threaten peace in the region, I will 
not hesitate to begin this Resolution to the House floor.

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