[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MUSHARRAF EASING UP ON TERRORISTS

  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, since September 11 the United States and 
the rest of the world have been curiously watching President Musharraf 
of Pakistan and the role he has been playing on the war on terrorism. 
Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, he has been cooperative with the United 
States in our anti-terrorist activities. But unfortunately, Musharraf 
has shown no dedication to quelling terrorist activities in his own 
backyard, Pakistan and Kashmir.
  Musharraf has created a double standard where he fights against 
terrorism globally, but winks at terrorist activity locally.
  Mr. Speaker, following the October 1 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir 
State Assembly and the December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament last 
year, it was clear that action against Islamic militants needed to take 
place. At that time, it was reported that President Musharraf outlawed 
two organizations responsible for terrorism in Kashmir, Jaish e-
Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, in addition to arresting nearly 2,000 men 
supposedly linked to terrorists. This was done in an effort to crack 
down on terrorists. The impression was also given by Musharraf that the 
madrassahs, those schools with training in fundamental Islamic 
principles which were directly linked to terrorism, would be closed 
throughout Pakistan. But, Mr. Speaker, this is in fact not the case at 
all.
  To begin with, the 2,000 supposed militants rounded up were for the 
most part arrested for minor crimes. From my understanding, there were 
two exceptions to this: the arrest of Masood Azar, head of Jaish-e-
Muhammad and the arrest of Hafiz Saeed, leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
  At this point, however, Mr. Azar has been demoted to house arrest, 
Mr. Saeed has been freed, and most of the 2,000 others that have been 
arrested have been released under the condition that they maintain good 
behavior.
  There is no accountability, Mr. Speaker, for terrorist activity in 
Pakistan or Kashmir.
  Musharraf is reversing his crackdown on terrorists, and terrorist 
groups that formerly existed are now rejoining other groups under new 
names.
  Mr. Speaker, President Musharraf is cozying up to the United States 
and its allies under the pretense that he is leading Pakistan in a war 
against terrorism, while at the same time he is condoning terrorism at 
home, in Pakistan, as well as in Kashmir. This is not only exemplified 
by the release of those arrested, but also by the continued operation 
of the religious schools with curricula that encourage violence. This 
double standard is unacceptable and should no longer be tolerated by 
the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no coincidence that Musharraf has released many of 
these arrested, including the leaders of terrorist organizations at the 
same time as the referendum which would continue his dictatorship for 5 
more years.
  Musharraf relies on the militant fundamentalists to maintain his 
illegal seizure of power as president. He does not have the legitimacy 
that comes from being elected president by the people of Pakistan. He 
is required to link his military rule to a fundamentalist religious 
theocracy in order to justify staying in office.
  Mr. Speaker, I also believe that peace between India and Pakistan and 
the negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue is inevitably linked to 
a democratic government in Pakistan. Democracies rarely war with each 
other and are more likely to settle their differences through peaceful 
means.
  General Musharraf's actions are moving in the opposite direction. An 
extension of his military regime will mean more encouragement to 
terrorism in Kashmir and ultimately I unfortunately think the greater 
likelihood of war with India.

                          ____________________