Congressional Statements
Rep. Ackerman, in Meeting With Brajesh
Mishra, Denounces Coup in Pakistan
Press Release
October 22, 1999
Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.) today asserted that the Clinton
Administration should not "in any way, fashion or shape" be
supportive of the continuation of the military regime in Pakistan.
During a 45-minute-long meeting with the visiting Indian National Security
Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, the New York lawmaker said the Administration
should work hard to prevent the military rulers of Pakistan, led by dictator
Gen. Pervaiz Musharaff, from entrenching themselves in positions of power.
Rep. Ackerman, who is the Cochairman of the Congressional caucus on India
and Indian Americans, said: "We [pro-India forces in Congress] shall
keep up the pressure on the Administration on this issue."
Rep. Ackerman, a leading member of the House International Relations
Committee, said there was a need to reorient U.S. policy toward South
Asia by placing more emphasis on developing better ties with New Delhi.
"The future is in India," Rep. Ackerman remarked during the
warm meeting with Ambassador Mishra, who had served as the Indian envoy
to the United Nations.
The lawmaker congratulated Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
for his "wise, prudent and statesmanlike" conduct during the
Kargil crisis and said: "He has won many new friends here."
He added: "India's display of responsibility and maturity as a nuclear
power during that crisis helped score tremendous amount of points on the
Capitol Hill."
Rep. Ackerman congratulated Ambassador Mishra, who also serves as the
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, for his successful trip to
Israel. Ambassador Mishra recently visited Israel as a part of the ongoing
India-Israel strategic dialogue. Rep. Ackerman praised the growing relationship
between New Delhi and Jerusalem.
Ambassador Mishra made a clear, frank and incisive presentation of India's
perceptions of the recent developments in Pakistan. He also explained
what India expected the U.S. to do in the light of the military coup in
Islamabad and how the overthrow of democracy in Pakistan would affect
relations between the two neighbors.
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