[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 149 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2134-E2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REGARDING INDIA'S FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2000

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attack on the U.S.S. Cole, in 
which 17 young American sailors lost their lives, and 39 were seriously 
wounded, was but the latest tragic reminder of the threat that the 
world's democratic nations face from the specter of terrorism. For many 
years, the United States has worked with our friends and allies to 
combat the scourge of international terrorism. This cooperation 
recognizes the mutual enlightened self-interest of democracies that 
face common threats to develop common means of responding to those 
threats.
  Few countries have suffered as much from international terrorism as 
India. India, a nation with deeply rooted democratic traditions, must 
remain vigilant against an ever-present threat of terror fomented from 
many of the same forces that seek to attack U.S. interests and cause 
harm to Americans, such as Osama Bin-Laden and the forces associated 
with his international terrorist network.
  That is why I am encouraged to see that cooperation between the 
United States and India on the anti-terrorism front has been 
strengthened and deepened. At the two U.S.-India summit meetings this 
year--one here in Washington the other in New Delhi--a framework for 
bilateral cooperation in the war against terrorism has been adopted, 
including establishment of a Joint Working Group on counter terrorism. 
We should see to it that this cooperation is strengthened and that this 
Joint Working Group continues to meet productively on a regular basis.
  In particular, I am encouraged that the U.S. and India have decided 
to expand the mandate of the Joint Working Group to include discussion 
on such issues as narco-terrorism and Afghanistan. During his visit to 
Washington in September, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee raised the 
situation in Afghanistan, India's concerns about the nature of the 
Taliban government and its connection with international terrorist 
organizations, concerns which the United States shares. Our two nations 
agreed to set up a framework for talks to deal with our common concerns 
about Afghanistan, and I will work to encourage progress on this front.
  For nearly two decades, India has suffered from cross-border 
terrorism in Punjab, in Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of India. 
Thousands of lives have been lost to the terrorists' bombs and guns. 
Last December, an Air India jet was hijacked by individuals 
subsequently identified as Pakistani nationals with possible links to 
ISI, an intelligence organization of the Pakistan Government.
  On a recent report on the CBS news magazine ``60 Minutes,'' Marine 
Corps General Anthony Zinni, outgoing commander of U.S. forces in South 
Asia told reporter Steve Kroft that he believes it is ``very possible'' 
that nuclear weapons in Pakistan could wind up in the hands of 
extremist religious leaders.
  These are the kinds of threats that India faces on an ongoing basis.
  The U.S. State Department has indicated its growing concerns about 
terrorism in the South Asia region. Congress must, if necessary, urge 
the State Department to act on designating those Pakistani-based 
militant groups that have so far escaped designation as Foreign 
Terrorist Organizations. Otherwise, those very groups will take the 
lack of action on our part as a signal that we are tolerating the very 
terrorist actions our laws are intended to interdict, thereby 
encouraging further terrorist action against innocent populations.
  Like the United States, India recognizes that terrorism represents an 
assault on the very notion of an open, democratic society. And like the 
United States, India is not about to surrender to those forces that 
seek to murder innocents, exact blackmail and tear the fabric of civil 
society. We have long worked with the other great democracies of the 
world to make

[[Page E2135]]

a common stand against those forces. We must see to it that the 
beginnings of cooperation we have seen with India, the world's largest 
democracy, will move forward to protect the lives of our people and 
build a more secure future for both of our great nations.

                          ____________________