[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 132 (Wednesday, September 24, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8891-H8892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PAKISTAN

  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, I rise this evening to highlight the 
Pakistani Government's continued activities with regard to nuclear 
proliferation and cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. I am particularly 
concerned because Pakistan's leader, President Musharraf, continues to 
deny these activities and most recently in a New York Times interview 
this last weekend.
  Mr. Speaker, with regard to exchange of nuclear equipment, it is 
abundantly evident that Pakistan has clandestinely provided rogue 
nations such as North Korea and Iran with necessary equipment for 
bolstering their nuclear weapons program. In fact, the U.N. nuclear 
watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, recently 
reported that Iran has admittedly received support from Pakistan in 
obtaining centrifuges and other equipment that was used as a catalyst

[[Page H8892]]

for creating its secret nuclear facility south of Tehran.
  Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the Bush administration has 
chosen to dismiss the information in this report, especially since the 
Pakistan-Iran link is so well defined, and since Pakistan is in 
complete violation of international laws forbidding exchange of nuclear 
equipment with countries like Iran. Last June when Presidents Musharraf 
and Bush met at Camp David, and this was last June, it seemed that the 
United States would no longer tolerate Pakistan's nuclear transfers to 
any country within the President's so-called axis of evil, but Pakistan 
is now guilty of such transfers to both North Korea as well as Iran.
  Mr. Speaker, I suggest that the Bush administration take appropriate 
action to punish Pakistan and to ensure that the same pattern of 
secretly supplying nuclear weapons to rogue nations does not continue.
  The other pressing concern that I would like to highlight this 
evening is Pakistan's continued terrorist efforts in Kashmir. In the 
past few months, the world has seen a significant uprising in the 
number and severity of guerrilla attacks in Kashmir. This is largely a 
result of evidence-based increased infiltration by Islamic militants at 
the line of control. Assessments by intelligence officials show that 
during the summer of 2003, the amount of infiltration was double the 
amount during the summer of 2002, and the number of murders and 
casualties of Indian Army men, civilians, and political figures in 
Kashmir has dramatically increased compared to last year.
  Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot afford to wait for these numbers to 
continue to rise. President Musharraf's participation in closing the 
borders thereby restraining militants from entering Kashmir is the key. 
To this day he denies that he allows cross-border terrorism to take 
place, and, in fact, he still provides direct moral and military 
support to terrorists that he terms ``freedom fighters.'' The severity 
of the situation has also increased recently as terrorist training 
camps are reopening and as there has been a rise in the number of youth 
in Kashmir traveling to Pakistan to attend these camps.
  As a result of pressure from the United States after 9/11, there 
seemed to be a somewhat successful effort to slow down infiltration at 
the border and to close terrorist camps throughout Pakistan, but, Mr. 
Speaker, that pressure has subsided, and the results are quite tangible 
in terms of increased terrorist activity in Kashmir that has brought 
much suffering to its people.
  I urge the Bush administration to renew its role in ending global 
terrorism by pressuring Musharraf to enforce measures for ending cross-
border terrorism in Kashmir.
  Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday's New York Times ran an editorial 
called ``Pakistan, a Troubled Ally,'' a title that could not have been 
more appropriate, in my opinion. The content of this editorial further 
strengthens my argument that Musharraf is pretending that he is not 
responsible for aiding Iran and North Korea's secret nuclear weapons 
program and furthermore that Musharraf is denying his role in promoting 
increased cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.
  I believe the United States has to respond to the numerous reports of 
nuclear proliferation in Iran and the increase in murders in Kashmir. 
Turning a blind eye to Pakistan's misbehavior in this stage of the game 
will surely further our own inability to promote peace and stability in 
the South Asia region, and beyond that the Middle Eastern and Far 
Eastern regions of the world.
  The United States has agreed to provide Pakistan with $3 billion in 
assistance for their help in the fight against terrorism. But, Mr. 
Speaker, before any of that money is provided, we must ensure that 
money is going to hands of a leader and a country that is, in fact, 
promoting nuclear security and ending terrorist activity. We have not 
seen a solid effort from President Musharraf on these vital issues, and 
before we can proceed with any assistance, these issues should be 
addressed.

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