Congressional Statements

Pallone says 'Now is the time' to declare Pakistan a terrorist state

Press Release
January 4, 2000

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, today said that "now is the time" for the United States and other major nations to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism.

The recently concluded Indian Airlines hijacking crisis is only the latest in a long series of incidents that point to Pakistan's role in promoting violence and instability in the region, said Pallone, who has repeatedly cited Pakistan's active role in supporting the militants who have been waging a campaign of terror in India's state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pallone said he would formalize his request in a letter to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright. Pending a response from the State Department, Pallone said he may draft legislation calling on the State Department to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.

Pallone, the founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, noted that the hijackers of the Indian Airlines plane were part of the Harakat-ul-Mujahudeen, which the U.S. State Department has described the as an "Islamic militant group based in Pakistan."

Pallone said the recent hostage situation is linked to the militant movement waging a campaign of terror and violence against both military and civilian targets in an effort to end Indian governance of Kashmir. Pakistan has acknowledged its "political and moral" support for the separatist movement, but credible reports from Indian and other sources indicates that Pakistan's support goes far deeper. Last year, Pakistan increased tensions in the region by launching a military campaign against Indian positions across the Line of Control in Kashmir.

While noting that the State Department has reacted with caution to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee's call for Pakistan to be designated as a terrorist state, Pallone said that he will continue to press for that status to be reviewed.

In the past, Pallone has stressed to the State Department the need to place more emphasis on Pakistan and its connection to terrorism.

"Besides the terrorist organizations themselves, those countries that harbor terrorist organizations or provide them with technical, financial, political or other support should also be held accountable," Pallone said.

"For a long time, I have been expressing concern about the role of Pakistan in terms of international terrorist activities," Pallone continued. "In particular, we have seen Pakistani involvement in the ongoing terror campaign in Kashmir.

"There have been reports that a significant number of the individuals involved in the terrorist camps in Afghanistan are Pakistani nationals. In recent years, we have seen some of the most notorious international terrorists B including those responsible for the World Trade Center bombings and the shootings at the CIA Headquarters B turning up in Pakistan. Pakistan actually protested the U.S. military action against terrorist training camps in Afghanistan."

In what he said may be "the last straw" in terms of Pakistan's association with terrorist activities, Pallone cited the recent report from India's top security adviser, Brajesh Mishra, that Indian intelligence intercepted radio conversations between militant groups in Kashmir that confirmed Pakistan had links to the hijackers. Indian officials have cited reports indicating that the hijackers are now somewhere in Pakistan, despite the denials of the leaders of Pakistan's military dictatorship. Among the hijackers' demands were the release of the organization's General Secretary, Masood Azhar, who hails from Pakistan, and other jailed Pakistani militants.

"Pakistan's response to these serious charges is to make the absurd allegation that India engineered the hijacking of its own citizens," Pallone said. "Yet the evidence once again points to at least some level of association between Pakistan and this latest terrorist incident.

"The history of the past few years points to the obvious conclusion that Pakistan is deeply involved in the ongoing campaign of terror afflicting Kashmir, and in terrorist acts elsewhere," Pallone continued. "The military junta that recently took over in Islamabad has only acted to increase that widespread perception.

"I believe that the global struggle against terrorism may have the longer-term effect of more closely uniting India and the U.S., since both of our countries have been victims of the international terrorist movement with which Pakistan has been associated," Pallone concluded.