[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16086-16087]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CONCERN ABOUT U.S. ARMS SALE TO PAKISTAN

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of 
the gentlewoman from New York.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from New 
Jersey is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express concern 
about the Bush administration's $5 billion arms sale to Pakistan. 
Though little can be done to stop the deal, I believe the plan is 
misguided.
  Considering the recent linkage of the Mumbai bombing to terrorist 
groups operating in Pakistan, this sale may further slow a 2-year peace 
process between India and Pakistan.
  The government of India has made a strong commitment to fighting 
terrorism all over the world. Like the United States, nothing has 
deterred their firm policy to fight this regional and global menace. 
Unfortunately, Pakistan has not yet figured out a way to deter 
terrorist cells from growing within their borders.
  We have to be careful where we are sending such highly sophisticated 
weaponry. While Pakistan has been an ally in the global war on terror, 
the government has simply watched while terrorist groups such as 
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba committed terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir and 
other parts of India. Its actions within its own country proved 
themselves not fit for receiving these arms.
  Mr. Speaker, foreign military assistance to Pakistan has been used 
against India in the past. This new U.S. policy of military sales to 
Pakistan will contribute to increasing security concerns throughout 
South Asia, particularly in India. This material is not being used 
against al Qaeda, but there is a potential that it would be used in a 
war against India. We don't need to reward Pakistan for being our 
friend in the war on terrorism by giving them advanced weapons systems 
that are not likely to be used in that effort.
  Pakistan has also faltered on proliferation in the past. In fact, 
just last week Pakistan announced that it is increasing its capacity to 
produce nuclear fuel, a move which signals a major expansion of the 
country's nuclear weapons capabilities. These reactors paired with some 
of our most highly technological jets and materials could be disastrous 
to the region.
  Mr. Speaker, we may be supporting the Pakistani military, but we may 
also be increasing the rift in peace relations between India and 
Pakistan and in the South Asia region.
  Mr. Speaker, economic assistance is certainly necessary to reform 
Pakistan's schools, provide health care programs and support economic 
restructuring that will stop Pakistan from being a breeding ground for 
terrorists. But military assistance is another matter. Allowing this 
sale sends the wrong message to the government and the people of India. 
I fear that it will mean a step backwards in U.S.-India relations and 
in South Asia's regional stability.

[[Page 16087]]



                          ____________________