[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10595-10596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FY 2003 FUNDING TO PAKISTAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
raise my concerns regarding U.S. financial assistance to Pakistan.
  Mr. Speaker, I understand that after September 11, the U.S. needed to 
coordinate with President Musharraf because of Pakistan's proximity to 
Afghanistan. Although the U.S. worked with Musharraf in the war on 
terrorism, I was skeptical, and I still remain skeptical, that 
Musharraf could fight both global terrorism and local terrorism by 
Islamic fundamentalists that still takes place in Kashmir and India.
  It is now clear that Musharraf's promises to crack down on terrorists 
at the line of control in Kashmir and to crack down on terrorist camps 
and schools in Pakistan were just promises that went unfulfilled. When 
a leader says he will crack down on terrorism, but in the same breath 
make statements like, ``Kashmir runs in our blood,'' or will refer to 
terrorists as freedom fighters, that should be evidence enough that he 
is not truthful with regard to terrorism.
  Regardless of his empty promises on fighting terrorism in Kashmir, 
and despite his lies about holding democratic elections, the U.S. in 
fiscal year 2002 allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan 
in both economic and military aid. The U.S. provided $600 million in 
economic assistance in fiscal year 2002, $73 million for border 
security, $75 million in FMF in the supplemental, and $50 million in 
military assistance.
  In addition, the recently passed supplemental contained $40 million 
for Pakistan, and an additional $250 million is being sought by the 
administration for economic development and assistance.
  I agree that Pakistan is in dire need of economic and humanitarian 
assistance, but I strongly objected to the military assistance provided 
to Pakistan by the U.S., especially considering the fact that Pakistan 
was not and still is not a democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for us to evaluate the situation 
in Pakistan before setting aside further money in fiscal year 2003 for 
economic aid to Pakistan, and certainly for military assistance to 
Pakistan. The atmosphere post-September 11 was different, and it was 
appropriate for the U.S. to provide aid to Pakistan since Musharraf was 
helpful to the U.S. in fighting the Taliban.
  At this point in time, however, the violence in Kashmir has 
escalated, and the overall situation of terrorism in Kashmir and 
throughout India charges Musharraf with the responsibility once and for 
all to stop infiltration at the border in Kashmir and to eliminate 
terrorist training camps and schools.
  With violence against civilians in Kashmir taking place on a nearly 
daily basis, and with nearly 1 million troops lined up along the 
Pakistan and Indian border, Musharraf has no choice but to keep his 
promise of stopping infiltration of Islamic fundamentalists who now 
claim ``Kashmir Jihad'' from entering Kashmir. I do not think it is 
appropriate for the U.S. to provide any further aid to Pakistan if this 
promise is not kept.
  In addition, Musharraf needs to go further than stopping 
infiltration. He must eradicate the training camps and schools 
operating in Pakistan. These schools breed terrorists, and in order to 
permanently end terrorism in Kashmir, Musharraf must go to the heart of 
the problem and put an end to the breeding of terrorism at these 
training camps.
  In addition, there must be some system for ensuring that Pakistan is 
accountable for the money that is allocated by the U.S. We should 
demand evidence that although economic aid may be going to schools and 
other social projects, that the investment is not then freeing up money 
that is reallocated towards weapons for Islamic militants and resources 
at terrorist training camps.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so concerned about the U.S. providing further funds 
to

[[Page 10596]]

Pakistan without Musharraf holding his word that I am planning on 
sending a word to the foreign ops appropriators to apprise them of the 
current situation and to encourage them to provide economic aid to 
Pakistan only on the condition that Musharraf does, in fact, take 
concrete steps to alleviate terrorism in Kashmir and to eliminate 
terrorist training camps.
  In addition, I would like to note that I plan to encourage the 
appropriators to steer clear of providing any military aid to Pakistan, 
regardless of the progress Musharraf makes on terrorism prevention.

                          ____________________