[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 38--RECOGNIZING THAT THE PLIGHT OF 
KASHMIRI PANDITS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONCERN SINCE 1989 AND THAT THEIR 
PHYSICAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDED BY THE 
 GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU 
                              AND KASHMIR

  Mr. BROWN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                             S. Con Res. 38

       Whereas Jammu and Kashmir has an ancient culture of 
     religious tolerance and pluralism, and Hindus, Muslims, 
     Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians were able to practice their 
     faith in an atmosphere of mutual respect and peace until 
     1989;
       Whereas Kashmiri Pandits are the original inhabitants of 
     Kashmir, tracing their heritage and culture back several 
     millennia;
       Whereas Kashmiri Pandits have been the victims of a 
     sustained ethnic cleansing campaign initiated in 1989 by 
     Pakistan-based terrorist groups, which forced a mass exodus 
     of Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom now live in 
     Indian refugee camps;
       Whereas the Kashmiri Pandit population has declined from 
     400,000 in 1989 to a current level of only 8,000;
       Whereas international human rights organizations have 
     failed to accurately report the campaign of intimidation and 
     violence directed against Kashmiri Pandits;
       Whereas hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit civilians, elected 
     officials, and military personnel have been killed in 
     terrorist attacks; and
       Whereas Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and 
     Lashkar-e Tayyiba, which are Pakistan-based terrorist groups 
     and have been designated by the Department of State as 
     foreign terrorist organizations, are seeking to drive out 
     Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir and fight the 
     security forces of the Government of the Republic of India: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) condemns the human rights violations committed against 
     Kashmiri Pandits;
       (2) urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of 
     Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism by dismantling the 
     infrastructure for terrorist activities in territory under 
     its control, so that all Kashmiris can live, work, and 
     worship in peace; and
       (3) encourages the Government of the Republic of India and 
     the state government of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that 
     Kashmiri Pandits are treated with respect and dignity and are 
     able to safely return to Kashmir.

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