Congressional Statements

Pallone praises President Bush for ending sanctions against India

Press Release
September 24, 2001

I congratulate President Bush for finally lifting sanctions against India. Since his first days in office, I have repeatedly called on the president to withdraw these barriers against the largest democracy in the world. In the aftermath of this month's terrorist attacks here in the United States, ending sanctions against India aids in securing a defense partnership with a nation that stands hand in hand with the U.S. in fighting terrorism and punishing the people responsible. I am confident our renewed economic ties with India can be pursued and stability in the South Asia region as a whole will be expedited.

I am disappointed that the president did not also end the entities list. Given India's unqualified support for the U.S. effort against terrorism, there was no reason that this list was not also withdrawn. I intend to continue to pressure the Administration to end the entities list in the near future.

I am also concerned by the president's decision to lift both economic and military sanctions against Pakistan. I understand that the president is trying to build support in the region for our fight against terrorism, and therefore support his decision to lift the economic sanctions, in the context of the Glenn Amendment, against Pakistan as he did for India. However, I think the president ignores Pakistan's sorry history of refusing to separate itself from international terrorist groups and exporting weapons to aid these groups. I fear that by lifting the military sanctions, in the context of the Pressler Amendment, Pakistan will be allowed to openly buy weapons, planes, and any military artillery. I am afraid Pakistan would use these tools against India in a future conflict in Kashmir.

While I am pleased to see President General Pervez Musharraf offer his support to the United States by agreeing to withdraw support to the Taliban, I am not confident Musharraf will follow through on these actions. I feel that maintaining the military sanctions against Pakistan would keep the pressure on Musharraf to cooperate with the United States.

In the past, the Pakistani dictatorial government has been directly involved in the planning and logistical support of Taliban military operations, as well as other terrorist group activities. Not only has Pakistan provided institutional support to terrorist activities, it has also provided weapons as a result of its irresponsible weapons export policies. I am somewhat skeptical that Pakistan will end this support.

I am pleased the president did not include provisions tied to democratic rule, in the context of Section 508, in the list of sanctions that were lifted today. General Pervez Musharraf, a self-declared President, has yet to take any meaningful steps to restore democratic rule in Pakistan. I would oppose the president from lifting remaining sanctions linked to democratic rule until Pakistan returns to a democratically elected government.