Congressional Statements

Gilman and Ackerman call on Secretary Powell to urge Pakistan to end support of terrorism and to return to democracy

Letter of Benjamin Gilman and Gary Ackerman
July 24, 2002

The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We write regarding your upcoming trip to Islamabad, Pakistan. Last month, as you know, President Musharraf made certain commitments to Deputy Secretary Armitage regarding Pakistan's support for terrorist infiltration across the line of control in Kashmir and about the use of Pakistani territory for terrorist training camps. It is our understanding that President Musharraf committed to a complete and verifiable halt to infiltration and to dismantle all the camps. In addition, we are extremely concerned about recent steps taken by President Musharraf that appear to us to be inconsistent with the establishment of true democracy in Pakistan.

Since the President's speech to the Congress on September 20, of last year, the Bush Doctrine on terrorism has been crystal clear "you are either with us, or you're with the terrorists." It is this clarity that formed the foundation of successful South Asia trips by your deputy, Richard Armitage and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. After those trips, you were quoted as saying that a halt to terrorist infiltration must be permanent and visible to India. We are confident that you will reiterate that sentiment to President Musharraf as you urge him to keep the commitment to abandon terrorism he has made to our government, to the international community and to the Pakistani people.

We are confident that you will deliver the right message, but are greatly concerned that the man on the receiving end of the message doesn't want to hear it, or worse intends to ignore it. There is ample evidence to support this fear. President Musharraf has been hailed for his decision to side with the United States in the war on terrorism and for his January 12 speech to the Pakistani people in which he articulated his vision of Pakistan as a modern, moderate, secular and democratic state. But no sooner did the international community commend President Musharraf for his rejection of Islamic extremism, than he reverted to form in attempting to describe the terrorist acts committed in India as those of "freedom fighters." Apparently, his rejection of terrorism "anywhere in the world" didn't include India.

More recently, after President Musharraf's early June commitments on terrorism, he was quoted in the Washington Post that terrorism in Kashmir was part of a "freedom struggle" to which Pakistan provides "moral, political and diplomatic support." As you have noted, Mr. Secretary, terrorism "can't be something where you turn a tap on or off..." President Musharraf's commitment be permanent and verifiable is the minimum that the United States should expect from our ally in the war on terrorism.

Mr. Secretary, we believe that Pakistan's return to democracy is an issue of equal importance to its commitments on terrorism in Kashmir. We recognize that Pakistan has been extremely supportive of Operation Enduring Freedom, and we are sure that you agree that the price for Pakistan's help must not include our abandonment of democratic principles. The United States should be insisting that Pakistan return to a democratic form of government without delay. The sham referendum extending his term, the proposed constitutional changes which would give him unprecedented power, and our concern that the national assembly elections scheduled for October, will not be free and fair, all point to President Musharraf's determination to hold onto power and merely create the veneer of democracy. The United States has nothing to fear from a truly democratic Pakistan. Those who argue that the alternatives to Musharraf maybe someone worse, ignore Pakistan's limited history with elections. Islamist parties have never done well in elections in Pakistan. We think that this speaks volumes about the desire of the Pakistani people to have the modern, moderate, secular, democratic, state that President Musharraf envisioned in his January 12 speech. The position of the United States should be to support the wishes of the Pakistani people in that regard. We hope, Mr. Secretary, that you will impress upon President Musharraf the importance, not only of keeping his commitment regarding terrorism, but the importance, as well, of establishing true democracy in Pakistan.

We wish you well on your trip Mr. Secretary and look forward to your response, as well as your safe return.

Sincerely,

Benjamin A. Gilman, Chairman
Gary L. Ackerman, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
Congressional Committee on International Relations