[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 21 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E247-E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            H. CON. RES. 324--WELCOMING PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 4, 2002

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 324, 
commending President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan for his leadership 
and welcoming him to the United States. I thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Pitts who recently traveled to the region, for 
introducing this legislation.
  In the days following September 11th, Mr. Musharraf had to make a 
difficult choice--he could have taken the easy way out--but he did not. 
To this end, Pakistan's support for President Bush's war on terrorism 
has been vital to our success in liberating Afghanistan.
  Pakistan is at a critical point, it is my hope that General 
Musharraf's speech of January 12th will be seen as the turning point in 
Pakistan's unfortunate history. Musharraf aligned his country with the 
international mainstream, rejecting terrorism. The members of this 
House now watch closely for the results.
  My colleagues have touched on cross border terrorism and democracy, 
let me turn to education reform. During his speech, President Musharraf 
announced a major overhaul to this country's 7,000 madrassas, or 
Islamic religious schools. In recent years, madrassas have sprouted up 
across Pakistan, Central Asia, and North Africa, in many instances

[[Page E248]]

funded by sources in Saudi Arabia. The curriculum in Pakistan's 
religious schools is not reading and math, instead, rote memorization 
is used to learn the Koran--in many schools, no other subjects are 
taught. Pakistan's madrassas have become a breading ground to spread 
extremist ideas, stir up antigovernment sentiment, and send young men 
off to wage holy was in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Each year, young men 
graduate from madrassas schooled in two things--they can either open up 
another school spreading extremism, or wage jihad.
  These madrassas are a threat to Pakistan's stability, they are a 
threat to India and they are a threat to the United States--President 
Musharraf's reforms are a welcome development. Now, they must rewrite 
the curriculum so that children will learn other skills rather than 
reciting the Koran. Those found propagating hatred will be shut down. 
The United States should support education reform in Pakistan and do 
other things--like lift trade barriers to Pakistani textiles, so that 
people are working and not left to find trouble.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. We welcome Mr. 
Musharraf to Washington, and will be watching Pakistan closely to make 
sure that his reforms become a reality.

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