Congressional Statements

McDermott welcomes Musharraf to U.S. but urges hard questions be asked

Statement in House of Representatives
February 12, 2002

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues to welcome General Musharraf to the United States. The friendship exhibited by the General's
government has been an important component of the war on terrorism. Moreover, the courage that General Musharraf has shown in taking a stance
against Pakistan's traditional ally, the Taliban, has been especially welcome.

While we welcome General Musharraf to Washington and congratulate him on his commitment to participating in our war on terrorism, we must also ask our friends in Pakistan some hard questions. For instance, we must ask Pakistan to show the world that it does not support cross-border terrorism into India. Pakistan must clamp down on the dozens of fighters that cross daily into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). If, as the General claimed last week, the fighting in Jammu and Kashmir is indigenous to India, will he order that his borders are tightly sealed against the radical Islamic militants who are based on Pakistani soil and wage war in India?

The General's government would gain tremendously in the international community if it also divulges to the world the status of the "Twenty Most Wanted" - the list of international terrorist leaders that are accused of being sheltered in Pakistan. There can be no doubt that terrorism is alive in Pakistan - we have only to look to the case of the journalist, Daniel Pearl, to show us the Pakistan has not been able fact clamped down on terrorism. Without a sincere, public and tangible series of steps on the part of the General and his government, Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism is questionable.

We must also ask the General when he intends to move Pakistan towards democracy. General Musharraf has ignored or had changed Supreme Court orders regarding local elections, and other distinct steps towards a return to democracy. Pakistan has had a long history of democratic instability, and I do not believe that the current global upheaval can justify delay in the return of democracy to Pakistan. We all hold the ideals of democracy and personal freedoms as sacrosanct, and we should not allow our friends in Pakistan to lapse in their progress towards democracy.

I truly extend my gratitude and hand of friendship towards General Musharraf during his visit. But I also must extend my concern that he and those of his ruling stratocracy are not committed to the same goals of peace, stability and democracy that we are. I ask the General to dispel my
hesitations and declare loudly that he is truly moving Pakistan towards democracy and that he is staunchly against all international terrorism. Until he stops bizarre diversions like blaming India for the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl and gets serious, it is going to be hard for us to take Pakistan and its interests as anything but dubious.