[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 8, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TIME TO MAKE INDIA A PERMANENT MEMBER OF U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in a little more than a week, President 
Clinton will embark on an historic trip to South Asia. It will mark the 
first time a U.S. President has traveled to this vitally important part 
of the world since President Jimmy Carter went to India in 1978.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, President Clinton announced that Pakistan 
would be part of his South Asian itinerary. Although I had previously 
opposed including Pakistan on the itinerary, in light of yesterday's 
announcement, I hope the Presidential visit will provide an opportunity 
for candid, productive discussion between our President and the 
generals in Pakistan now with regard to the need to dramatically change 
Pakistan's course in a number of key areas.
  It is important that President Clinton express to Pakistani General 
Musharraf that the United States is very concerned about Pakistan's 
role in fomenting instability in Kashmir, about the links between 
Pakistan and terrorist organizations, and about Pakistan's role in the 
proliferation of nuclear weapons and missile technology.
  I think that General Musharraf and the other leaders of the Pakistani 
ruling junta must hear the message that the United States does not 
consider last year's military coup to be acceptable, and that the 
overthrow of a civilian government cannot be allowed to stand as a 
permanent condition in Pakistan.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record an editorial that appeared in 
today's New York Times called ``Troubled Trip to Pakistan'' as follows:

                [From the New York Times, Mar. 8, 2000]

                       Troubled Trip to Pakistan

       President Clinton's decision to include a stop in Pakistan 
     in his visit to South Asia later this month should not be 
     seen as an American endorsement of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, 
     that country's military ruler. Since seizing power last 
     October, General Musharraf has ignored Washington's concerns 
     in three vital areas. He refuses to cut links with 
     international terrorist groups, resists treaty commitments to 
     curb Pakistan's nuclear weapons program and declines to take 
     steps toward restoring democratic rule.
       For these reasons, Mr. Clinton would have done better to 
     skip Pakistan, limiting his visit to India and Bangladesh. 
     But since he has chosen to add a stop in Islamabad, he should 
     use his time there to encourage constructive changes in 
     Pakistani behavior.
       Administration officials concluded that a snub of Pakistan 
     might drive the country toward even more belligerent conduct. 
     With only 10 months remaining in Mr. Clinton's term, this is 
     probably his last chance to visit Pakistan as president. He 
     enjoyed some success interceding with General Musharraf's 
     deposed predecessor, Nawaz Sharif, getting him to pull back 
     from a dangerous military confrontation with Indian in 
     Kashmir last summer. That border remains dangerous, with 
     Pakistani-backed militants regularly attacking Indian 
     positions.
       Since both countries became independent a half-century ago, 
     Pakistan has been challenging India's control over this 
     restive Muslim-majority state. Mr. Clinton now seems eager to 
     offer American help in resolving the longstanding dispute. 
     But India remains opposed to any form of international 
     mediation on Kashmir, and without New Delhi's cooperation any 
     American effort would be doomed. For now, America should 
     limit its role to trying to prevent further armed clashes.
       Mr. Clinton should also press General Musharraf to sever 
     ties with Harakat ul-Mujahedeen, a Kashmiri terrorist group 
     backed by the Pakistani Army. He ought to insist that 
     Pakistan use its close links with the Taliban government in 
     Afghanistan to press for the expulsion of Osama bin Laden, 
     the international terrorist implicated in the deadly bombings 
     of two American embassies in Africa. Another goal should be 
     to persuade Pakistan, as well as India, to sign the nuclear 
     test ban treaty.
       South Asia is home to more than a sixth of the world's 
     population and is of growing economic importance. For too 
     long it has been neglected by American presidents. This is 
     not the ideal moment for Mr. Clinton to visit Pakistan. He 
     should keep his visit as brief as possible and not flinch 
     from telling General Musharraf what he must do to win 
     American and world respect.

  Mr. Speaker, this editorial basically expresses my sentiments in 
regard to the fact that Pakistan should not have been included on the 
itinerary, but now that it is, what positive steps need to be taken by 
Pakistan and what the President could hopefully accomplish in that 
regard.
  I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that despite my initial reservations, I 
hope that the President's visit to Pakistan will offer an opportunity 
for some straight talk on these important issues.
  On the issue of the Pakistani coup, Mr. Speaker, I believe that this 
Congress must make a firm statement of our opposition and displeasure 
with the seizure of power by means of a coup d'etat and that civilian, 
democratically-elected government be restored.
  Last October, right after the coup, legislation was introduced in 
this House by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the 
ranking member of the House Committee on International Relations. 
Unfortunately, that resolution has not yet been acted upon by this 
House.
  Today I am sending a letter to the distinguished Speaker of the 
House, Mr. Hastert, urging that this important resolution be scheduled 
for a vote as soon as possible. I urge my colleagues in joining me on 
this initiative.

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