[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMENDING PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF OF PAKISTAN

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Madam President, I appreciate the comments from my 
colleague from West Virginia and his thoughts. We have some important 
decisions to make.
  I speak on an event taking place currently in the Capitol, the 
welcoming of the President of Pakistan. Yesterday, we passed a 
resolution welcoming President Musharraf of Pakistan to the United 
States. He arrived in Washington last night. He will be here for a 
couple of days.
  I rise to call attention to this visit of President Musharraf and 
praise his courageous leadership in standing by the United States in 
its war on terrorism. President Musharraf has taken action within his 
own country to align with the international community to reject 
terrorism. It has been a very difficult task for him. Pakistan has been 
in a great deal of turmoil. President Musharraf has worked to bring 
calm and peace to that region. But when we went forward with our 
efforts in Afghanistan, which to date have been quite successful, this 
was a very trying time in Pakistan.
  President Musharraf stood by his commitment to end terrorism, stood 
by his commitment to work with the United States. That has been a help 
in our efforts in that region of the world and for the future of 
Pakistan and relationships with the United States.
  In a speech last month, President Musharraf set Pakistan on a new 
course with his version of a moderate, dynamic, Muslim nation. He 
reminded the Pakistani people that charity begins at home. It was time 
to fight the root causes of extremism: poverty, and illiteracy. He has 
done this at great risk to himself on behalf of a peaceful and 
prosperous future for Pakistan. He has opened the way to eventual true 
peace with India. It is an important message for Pakistan, for South 
Asia, and for the whole world.
  President Bush also made note of President Musharraf's important 
leadership in the State of the Union Address. The President said: 
Pakistan is now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong 
leadership of President Musharraf.
  Pakistan's support remains essential to our fight against terrorism. 
We are grateful to President Musharraf for his leadership. Without it, 
Operation Enduring Freedom could not have been accomplished and could 
not have received its accomplishments or made the accomplishments that 
it has to date. We owe much to the Pakistani people. However, the fight 
is not yet over and risks still remain. Violent extremists could still 
undermine peace and security in the region. As we isolate our enemies, 
so, too, must we aid and draw closer to our friends.
  Pakistan's bold stand against terror alongside the United States is 
not made in a vacuum. There are real economic and social consequences 
in Pakistan for assisting the United States in our war effort. It would 
be a failure of U.S. foreign policy not to pursue the means of 
assisting our ally in its time of need. We must provide assistance to 
Pakistan in all the areas that will help keep it on track with 
President Musharraf's vision for a prosperous, strong, independent, 
modern Islamic state, a democracy of capital markets.
  As we have all seen, a small yet very focused and vocal Islamic 
minority within Pakistan has spoken out against the Pakistani 
Government and the assistance it received from the United States. The 
small minority has called for and implemented damaging labor strikes 
and encouraged countless numbers of young Pakistanis to cross the 
border into Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban. This is a 
strong vocal minority in Pakistan. A further weakened economy and 
increased unemployment in Pakistan, the clear results of some weakened 
markets that have taken place because of the war on terrorism, only add 
to the influence of fundamentalists in Pakistan by strengthening social 
and economic unrest on which extremists prey.

  This is why it is crucial that the United States now provide 
assistance and support to Pakistan. It is time to make sure that our 
policies of all sorts--economic, social policies, geopolitical 
policies--reflect what is best for America, not only in terms of our 
economy but also for our future security. Helping Pakistan through this 
difficult and necessary transition is in the direct interests of the 
United States. We must support those willing to take on the fight for 
freedom if we are to see our values flourish around the world.
  I am delighted President Musharraf is visiting the United States at 
this time. I know he will receive a strong, positive welcome from the 
United States.

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