[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO PAKISTAN IS NO ENDORSEMENT OF MILITARY COUP

  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, as President Clinton prepares for his 
historic trip to South Asia, I wanted to address some of the key 
concerns that are sure to arise during his visit to Pakistan. While 
most of the President's trip will be spent in India, the world's 
largest democracy, and in Bangladesh, the President will also be 
traveling at the end of his trip to Pakistan. He will meet with General 
Musharraf, who seized power from the democratic, civilian government in 
a military coup last October.
  Mr. Speaker, recently, Lally Weymouth of the Washington Post 
conducted an interview with Pakistan's military dictator, General 
Musharraf, and in the interview the general made some statements that 
cannot go unchallenged.
  It is apparent from the general's comment that Pakistan is trying to 
create the appearance that the visit by the President of the United 
States constitutes an endorsement of the military coup. In particular, 
Mr. Speaker, General Musharraf stated of the President's decision to go 
to Pakistan, and I quote, ``It is also recognition of the righteousness 
of our stand in Kashmir.''
  Now, Mr. Speaker, the White House has tried to make it clear that the 
trip does not represent an endorsement of the overthrow of Pakistan's 
civilian, elected government by General Musharraf.
  In case there is any doubt, I would like to quote from President 
Clinton directly. Last Thursday, March 9, President Clinton said of his 
upcoming visit to Pakistan, and I quote, ``I think it would be a 
mistake not to go, but it would be a grave mistake for people to think 
that my going represents some sort of endorsement of a nondemocratic 
process which occurred there.''
  The President went on to say that his visit is a ``recognition that 
America's interest and values will be advanced if we maintain some 
contact with the Pakistani government.'' But he added, ``I think that 
our ability to have a positive influence on the future direction of 
Pakistan in terms of the restoration of democracy, in terms of the 
ultimate resolution of issues in the Indian subcontinent and in terms 
of avoiding further dangerous conflicts, will be greater if we maintain 
our cooperation.''
  I want to emphasize that in this statement by the President and in 
all statements from the White House and the State Department about the 
President's decision to visit Pakistan, it has been stated and 
reiterated that the restoration of democracy is a key objective.
  In her statement yesterday to the Asian Society, Secretary of State 
Madeleine Albright said that ``The President will make clear our 
support for an early return to democratic rule as well as our ongoing 
friendship with the Pakistani people.''
  Mr. Speaker, what is even harder to take seriously is the General's 
statement about the righteousness of Pakistan's stand in Kashmir. 
Pakistan's involvement in Kashmir has consisted of supporting an 
ongoing terrorist campaign that has cost the lives of thousands of 
innocent civilians, mostly Hindus, but also many Muslims. Last year 
Pakistan further escalated tensions in the region by launching an 
attack against India's side of the line of control in Kashmir in the 
area of Kargil. This disastrous military campaign was condemned by the 
United States and other major nations.
  It has been widely reported that General Musharraf was the architect 
of the Kargil attack. In his response to a question on this from the 
Washington Post the general said, ``Whatever happened was the 
government's decision.'' That is an interesting admission, given 
Pakistan's earlier insistence that the hostilities in the Kargil area 
were the work of indigenous Kashmiri forces. Clearly, the fact that 
this was a government decision indicates that the Pakistani armed 
forces were directly involved, and General Musharraf was the army chief 
of staff at the time.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. Speaker, President Clinton has stated that the U.S. will not 
mediate the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan unless and until 
both countries agree to U.S. mediation. He clearly is not taking sides 
on the issue of whether India vs. Pakistan is more righteous with 
regard to Kashmir.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope President Clinton's upcoming meeting with General 
Musharraf will be an opportunity to demonstrate to General Musharraf 
that he and the regime that he leads cannot continue with the current 
policy of suppressing democracy and on provoking a conflict with India 
over Kashmir.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
McDermott) shares many of the same concerns that I have about General 
Musharraf's recent statements, and on the important issues that the 
U.S. has to stress in our relationship with Pakistan.
  I would also like to associate myself with the remarks that I believe 
he will be making later this evening.

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