Congressional Statements

Rep. Gary Ackerman Calls for Greater U.S.-India Cooperation to Combat Terrorism

Press Release
(September 17, 1999)

Text of speech by Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Cochairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and Member of the House International Relations Committee, given on Sept. 17 at an Indian American banquet in Atlanta, Georgia. Rep. Ackerman was recently named as the U.S. Congressional Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly session.

NAMASTE.

As many of you might know, this is the first time I am speaking to an Indian American audience in the South since my election as the Cochairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

And I am proud to be here -- for after all, I consider myself an Honorary Indian American. And as such, you all should consider me as your 'Bhai' -- your Brother.

India has a special place in the psyche of the American people. It is a land with which many Americans can identify. And not just Indian Americans. We are all awed by its mystifying complexities. It is a much loved nation as much as it is much misunderstood. Many of us think we know India and yet we don't understand it fully.

Perhaps, I won't be wrong in suggesting that many Indians themselves do not fully know India, or for that matter that ancient nation's potential, if not its destiny.

America's love affair with India is an old one. After traveling to India in 1896, Mark Twain wrote: "Even now, after a lapse of a year, the delirium of those days in Bombay has not left me and I hope it never will."

As my friends know, India has a special corner in my heart as well. I have been to India several times. And upon each of my returns, I have felt as Mark Twain did. I hope to make a trip there in November if we wrap up our work in Congress on time.

As many of you are aware, there were many a good fight that together we have fought on the Hill for India and Indian Americans.

I'm happy to report that pro-Indian American forces scored three big victories in Congress in just the past few weeks. I am proud to have played a leading role in orchestrating this string of legislative victories as our issues were wholeheartedly joined by several members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

First, we ensured that Pakistan understood that aggression is totally unacceptable and that Islamabad would have to pay a heavy price unless it pulled back its forces, both overt and covert, from the Indian side of Line of Control in Kashmir.

With regard to Kargil, I authored a substitute amendment that passed the House International Relations Committee aimed to cut off multilateral aid to Pakistan unless it withdrew from Indian soil.

Second, in a skirmish on the House floor, we beat back an overt attack on India. We soundly defeated the Goodling amendment, which was directed against India because of New Delhi's alleged voting record at the U.N. The attempt to curb military assistance to India was defeated when we exposed the Representative from Pennsylvania's concealed attempt to associate India with rogue states.

And finally, just before the August recess, in a major battle turned rout, we overwhelmed the perennial India-bashing measure the infamous Dan Burton Amendment that aims to cut off development aid to India. The opposition that we mustered to his measure on the House floor was so strong and sustained that the Indiana lawmaker withdrew his measure citing a 'technical error' in drafting his amendment, thus avoiding a major embarrassment to his position.

Let me reiterate something this evening -- Members of the Indian American community will never see me lacking in advocating your legitimate concerns and your legitimate interests in the House of Representatives. I will speak out -- and speak our forcefully on your behalf. You can count on that.

The Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, is your Caucus on the Hill. It has been created for you. It's your forum. It's here to articulate your aspirations and hopes.

In your professional and personal lives, you as a community have done singularly well. America recognizes your contributions - you have done much to add to this Nation's economic, technological, scientific, social, cultural and educational strength. Now it is time for you to build your political strength - You must do it in an organized and disciplined way. You have come a long way from where you were in the late seventies and early eighties. But much remains to be accomplished. And the time is now.

But this much I do want to say - Don't sit on the sidelines and watch the game. Democracy is not a spectator sport. To build on your success you must play the game. The political process is as much for you as for any one else. America's political doors have been opened for you; mainstream American politics is beckoning you. It's time for you to get involved.

And let me tell you this - unless you participate, and participate fully, you will be left out and your children will be left out.

So, my friends, my brothers and sisters, I urge you to devote the time and resources necessary toward enriching this Nation's political life.

Let the future generations of the Indian American community delight in the fact that not only were their ancestors in this land great doctors, computer scientists, and superb professionals, but were also wise enough to seize the political opportunity to ensure the survival of your identity as a community.

One of the problems that bedevils U.S.-India relations is a lack of understanding of India's cultural and civilizational compulsions by American policy makers. This is a serious deficiency and it must be remedied quickly. For if we fail to understand the cultural underpinnings of a nation in the proper context, we end up making erroneous judgments.

Civilizational values are yet another driving force that determines to a large extent why an ancient nation such as India behaves the way it does. We don't seem to make an effort to understand these rather invisible forces at work. We, very often, mistakenly tend to believe that all nations, especially democracies, behave much like ourselves. The fact is that they don't.

Our erroneous belief that democracies such as India think and act as we do is partly based on own arrogance and partly on our ignorance -- ignorance of the cultural differences and civilizational pride of India.

I understand Indian sensibilities and a handful of my colleagues in the House understand as well.

But overall, such understanding of India on the Hill is lacking. In fact, I won't be wrong in saying that India and its intentions are much misunderstood. Therefore our job is cut out for us. Let us therefore resolve this evening that in a spirit of unity, you, the Indian American community, and I and the Caucus will work together to accomplish our common objectives to remove the misperceptions about India and its peoples' aspirations.

You the Indian American community have proven time and again to be India's best Ambassadors. And I want you all to join me and the India Caucus to push for achieving new heights in U.S.-India relations. You efforts are critical because we on the Hill pay serious attention to what you have to say about issues that concern you. I urge you to redouble your efforts on the Hill as we face some challenging times ahead of us.

I am proud to say, hard work and good organization pays off. It is becoming clear that U.S.-India relations are on the upswing. President Clinton spoke with Prime Minister Vajpayee in July and the two talked for some 20 minutes. In my recent letter to Mr. Clinton, I wrote: "Mr. President, as your recent phone conversation with Prime Minister Vajpayee shows, the United States and India are on the cusp of a new relationship." A few days after this conversation Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh had a very productive and successful meeting in Singapore setting the right tone and direction in shaping our two nations' relations. I hope to be meeting with Mr. Jaswant Singh in New York next week when the U.N. General Assembly sessions begin.

Allow me to take this evening's opportunity to applaud the Vajpayee Administration for its bold efforts at strengthening India's relations with the state of Israel. As many of you are aware Israel, just like India, is a special place for me. Both are ancient civilizations and have much in common politically and economically and share strong democratic beliefs, traditions and values.

India is one among those rare nations where people of Jewish faith have never been persecuted. In fact, Jews who sought refuge in India were welcomed with open arms and given a place of pride in the society. Jewish people, both in the U.S. and Israel, are fascinated by the rich and varied traditions of India its religious, linguistic, cultural diversify.

And I also know that the Indian American community has a strong affinity for the Jewish American community and work together in many professional, political and social arenas. Several Indian Americans leaders, if I may remind you all, played a sustained and positive role in lobbying the various governments in New Delhi to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel.

Strong India-Israel relations is very critical to ensuring peace and stability in a part of the world that is characterized by instability, fundamentalist religious bigotry, hatred toward the West and its values and murder and mayhem spawned by acts of cross-border terrorism.

I am pleased with the latest developments in Indo-Israeli relations, especially the visit to Israel by BRAJESH MISHRA, Indian National Security Adviser. And the other good news is that the new Israeli leader. Prime Minister Ehud Barak is expected to be making a trip to India soon. This is a development that the Indian American community should promote, because there is much that New Delhi and Jerusalem can accomplish in a variety of areas. We in the U.S. should encourage and applaud this positive development.

U.S.-India relations in the post-Kargil period is showing signs of a new sense of maturity. It is my belief that both New Delhi and Washington have taken the morally correct step my coming together to address the issue of international terrorism. Acts of terror in all their forms have no place in a civilized world. The U.S. and India as the torch bearers of democratic values have a moral duty to fight -- and fight hard -- to put an end to cross-border terrorism and acts of religious hate and bigotry.

The scourge of terrorism is an not a problem for the West alone. India is one of its biggest victims. We all full well know what is happening in that beautiful Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir and its peace-loving people have become victims of cross-border terrorism. This is an abhorrent phenomena that should be combated most decisively by all civilized societies and governments.

I applaud the Clinton Administration for taking an evenhanded approach to the Kashmir issue and once again reiterate that there is absolutely no grounds for appointing any sort of a special envoy for Kashmir. Kashmir is a bilateral problem and must be resolved by India and Pakistan within the framework of the Shimla agreement.

Grit, patience and realism are essential ingredients in facing up to the problem posed by international terrorism. Both the U.S. and India must evolve a common strategy to beat back this global problem. Those who abet and sponsor this blood-curling menace of global banditry and allow their territory to be breeding grounds for terrorism must be put on notice. They must be told in no uncertain terms that unless they put an end to cross-border terrorism, they will be put on the List of Nations that Promote Terrorism.

Some nations don't appear to realize that terrorism is a monster that ultimately swallows up its own creator. Any nation that abets, supports or sponsors terrorism against another sovereign country must remember that it itself may become a victim. That is what I am afraid may be the fate that awaits the nation that is promoting cross border terrorism in Kashmir. That country is no longer seen by many as a state that sponsors terrorism, but as a state that is on the brink of being sponsored and controlled by terrorists. It has to wake up and wake up now before the monster of terrorism devours it.

India has acted wisely by starting a dialogue with the U.S. Two Indian officials were in Washington recently to discuss the issue and our State Department's acting coordinator for counter-terrorism, Michael Sheehan, is in New Delhi today to give further momentum to the dialogue. This dialogue is the first step in the right direction. And it must intensify. I hope both our nations can act unitedly and decisively at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session to find some solutions to halt acts of cross border terrorism.

I am glad to report to you that I have been selected to be this U.S. Congressional Delegate to the new United Nations General Assembly session, which began this week. I intend to make the issue of cross-border terrorism the most important concern of mine and work toward finding solutions to counter this pernicious problem.

Ladies and Gentleman, I am here to assure you that as you endeavor to ensure a place for your community at this nation's political head table, in me you have a dependable and committed ally. Under my leadership, the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans will work hard to push your community's legitimate interests, both in domestic and foreign policy arenas.

From the very beginning, I have firmly believed that our Congressional Caucus is really a reflection of your strength, your political activism and your commitment to give this nation your unique perspective in the arena of public service. For that I commend you. The best representation and the finest ambassadors this country can have from India are in this room. It is the Krishna Srinivasas, and the Ani Agnihotris and each and every one of you -- your values, your stress on education and your work ethic. You are simply the best envoys India can have in this country.

I am proud to be here this evening with you all. Thank you for having me.

Jai Hind and God Bless America.