[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 105 (Friday, June 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING FEBRUARY 14 TERRORIST ATTACKS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE PLIGHT 
                        OF THE KASHMIRI PANDITS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2019

  Mr. SHERMAN. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on Asia, I want to draw attention to the ongoing problem 
of terrorism in Kashmir and the often-overlooked plight of the Kashmiri 
Hindu Pandits.
  On February 14, 2019, a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 40 Indian 
Central Reserve Police Force personnel. This attack was perpetrated by 
an operative of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a U.S. and UN-designated terrorist 
group. Then, on June 13, 2019, 5 Indian Central Reserve Police Force 
personnel were killed in another terrorist attack in Kashmir 
perpetrated by Al Umar Mujahideen, a different terrorist organization. 
These attacks are hardly unusual--over the years, thousands of 
civilians and security personnel have been killed in terrorist attacks 
in Kashmir.
  The United States has been attacked by terrorist groups similar to 
the ones in Kashmir. It is therefore imperative that we stand with 
India in this time of need.
  The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has historically had a culture 
of religious tolerance and pluralism, where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, 
Buddhists, and Christians practiced their faith freely in an atmosphere 
of mutual respect and peace. The violence the region has witnessed in 
recent decades has eroded this tradition. One group that has suffered 
as a result is the Kashmiri Pandits, who have lived in Kashmir for 
centuries. By some estimates, 300,000 Pandits once lived in Kashmir. 
Today, by some estimates, only 3,000-5,000 remain. This is a tragedy 
that is too often ignored. Sadly, the violence in Kashmir is likely to 
continue until different sects restore the tradition of religious 
tolerance and pluralism.
  To conclude, I ask my colleagues to co-sponsor H. Res. 408, which 
Congressman Perry, Congressman Krishnamoorthi, and I introduced in May 
2019. Besides condemning the February terrorist attacks, this 
resolution acknowledges that the House of Representatives supports the 
rights of religious and other minorities around the world, including 
the Kashmiri Pandits.