Congressional Statements

Pallone criticizes delay in House resolution on Pakistani coup

Praises India's Commitment to Democracy

News Release
November 17, 1999

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, today criticized the Republican Leadership's failure to bring a resolution condemning the recent coup in Pakistan to a vote in the House of Representatives.

Pallone did speak in strong support of a resolution praising India's recent Parliamentary elections and urging President Clinton to travel to India. That resolution, sponsored by Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-NY, passed the House overwhelmingly.

But a resolution sponsored by Rep. Sam Gejdenson, D-CT, the Ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, expressing strong Congressional condemnation of the coup d'etat in Pakistan and urging the restoration of civilian government was not brought up today as part of a series of resolutions on various international issues that were considered under an expedited procedure. The Gejdenson resolution had been approved by the International Relations Committee last week.

With Congress due to adjourn for the year this week, Pallone expressed concern that the House would not go on record condemning the Pakistani coup.

"In the past few weeks, the headlines from South Asia have been dominated by the news from India's neighbor Pakistan, where a military coup has deposed the nation's civilian Prime Minister," Pallone stated in his speech on the House floor. "This was obviously an important, and very disturbing development, one which has been condemned by me and many of my colleagues here in Congress.

"It was important that this resolution come to the floor now to send a message to the Pakistani government that the House of Representatives collectively will not tolerate the overthrow of a democratic government."

In his floor speech, Pallone repeatedly contrasted India and Pakistan.

"Mr. Speaker, what we now see in South Asia are two great nations moving in completely different directions. While Pakistan is mired in military coups and economic collapse, India sticks to the path of democracy and economic reform," Pallone said.

Pallone spoke approvingly of the different treatment meted out to India and Pakistan by the Clinton Administration in terms of waiving key Glenn Amendment sanctions - with most sanctions against India being waived, while most of those on Pakistan remain in force. But Pallone stressed his preference for suspending the sanctions on India outright, rather than continuing to give the President authority to waive them.

In addition, Pallone has called on President Clinton to end one of the major ongoing sanctions, namely the U.S. policy of blocking World Bank loans to India for so-called non-basic humanitarian needs, stressing that investments in infrastructure and power projects are necessary to ensure a decent quality of life and to lift millions of people out of poverty.

"I also urge the Administration not to use the prospect of reopening military assistance to Pakistan as an inducement to the military coup leaders," Pallone stated. "This is particularly timely in light of recent reports of serious border attacks against India by Pakistani troops in Kashmir - just one in a long series of disturbing recent developments in Pakistan."