[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20582]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, as we move toward the conclusion of the 
107th Congress, I think it is fair to say that we will look back on 
this period as a time when South Asia became a major focus of U.S. 
foreign policy. Obviously, Afghanistan has occupied much of our 
attention, as our forces have routed the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces, 
which had turned that country into a base for international terrorism.
  But a South Asian relationship that has perhaps received fewer 
headlines, but which I believe will prove to have a long-lasting and 
deep value for both countries, is our growing relationship with India.
  After September 11, when so much changed for America and the world, 
India immediately stepped forward in full support and solidarity with 
the United States in the war on terrorism. But this level of 
cooperation and partnership between the U.S. and India in the struggle 
against terrorism was nothing new. The two countries had actually been 
cooperating on counter-terrorism efforts since the establishment of the 
U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism in January 2000. 
Further, this cooperative system for addressing the problem of 
terrorism was part of a much larger realignment in relations between 
the world's two largest democracies.
  When President Clinton traveled to India in March 2000--the first 
visit by an American President to India in more than 20 years--
bilateral relations had already been showing signs of slow but steady 
improvement. President Clinton's trip to India, and the visit a few 
months later in September 2000 by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari 
Vajpayee--marking the first time that two lndo-U.S. summits had taken 
place in the same year--resulted in the development of a new framework 
for bilateral relations that was spelled out in ``A Vision for the 21st 
Century.'' This Vision Statement called for a greater institutional 
dialogue, including a U.S.-India Financial and Economic Forum, a U.S.-
India Commercial Dialogue, a U.S.-India Working Group on Trade, and 
joint groups dealing with such wide-ranging issues as energy and 
environment, science and technology exchange, and cooperation on the 
promotion of democracy internationally. I am pleased to report that 
these cooperative bodies have been active and have produced substantive 
results.
  Since assuming office in early 2001, the Bush Administration has 
continued the progress begun by its predecessor. After 9/11, there was 
an upsurge in U.S.-India relations, given the urgent need to address 
the source of terrorism in Afghanistan. While India and the United 
States are united as democracies that have been the victims of 
horrendous terrorist violence, much of it coming from the same 
extremist sources based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, our relationship 
is by no means limited to our alliance in the war on terrorism. At 
their November 2001 meeting, President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee 
issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to continue 
transforming our relationship, including increased exchanges and 
technical cooperation in the defense and security areas. They also 
called for policies to enhance the economic and commercial ties between 
our nations and agreed to dialogue and cooperation in the areas of 
energy, the environment, health, space, export controls, science, 
biotechnology and information technology. The cordial relationship 
between President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee, like the warm ties 
that President Clinton continues to enjoy with the Prime Minister, 
serves as a visible symbol of the friendship and partnership between 
our countries on so many levels. In his visit to the United States this 
September for the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Vajpayee 
attended commemoration ceremonies for 9/11, demonstrating again that 
the Indian and American peoples stand together as supporters of 
democracy committed to standing steadfastly against the scourge of 
international terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, India's commitment to democracy is not just some 
abstract principle. For 50 years, India's political system has been 
based on free and fair elections. We have just witnessed the latest 
example of this commitment in India's state of Jammu and Kashmir. 
Despite the ongoing threat of terrorism, much of it emanating from 
neighboring Pakistan, four rounds of elections have just been completed 
in Jammu and Kashmir for the state assembly. Despite efforts by the 
terrorists to intimidate voters and candidates, the elections have been 
successfully concluded. Voter turnout has been estimated at a 
respectable 44 percent, and the early indications are that the current 
ruling party will lose its majority in the assembly. The fact that the 
state government will peacefully change hands as the result of an 
elections is but further evidence that India's democracy is not only 
alive and well, but thriving.
  Mr. Speaker the progress in U.S.-India relations that has been made 
over the last several years has allowed us to broaden and deepen a 
relationship with a sister democracy in a part of the world where the 
United States has significant interests. It is a relationship that can 
only continue to bring both countries great benefits.

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