Congressional Statements

Pallone criticizes continued links between Pakistan and the Taliban

Press Release
December 12, 2001

Citing several disturbing news reports over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) last night criticized Pakistan for continued links to the Taliban and stressed that the United States government must stand firm in refusing to provide Pakistan any military assistance.

During a speech on the House floor, Pallone pointed to two articles in the New York Times that corroborate the difficulty Pakistan has in separating itself from the Taliban. According to an article from last Saturday's paper, Western and Pakistani officials reported that, "One month after the Pakistani government agreed to end its support of the Taliban, its intelligence agency was still providing safe passage for weapons and ammunition to arm them." This, despite the fact the United States issued an ultimatum to Pakistan in September that if it wanted to join the United States in the fight against terrorism, Pakistan would have to end its ties with the Taliban.

Although Pakistani intelligence claims that the last sanctioned delivery of weapons to the Taliban occurred about a month after the U.S. issued its ultimatum, Pallone said it is clear that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has perpetuated military support of the Taliban. The ISI is a powerful group of military jihadi, who are not representatives of the government, however they operate fiercely within Pakistan. Accordingly, Pallone said Pakistan inevitably engages in logistical and military support of the Taliban.

"I stand strong in my argument against military aid to Pakistan, even under the current circumstances," Pallone said. "I opposed the lifting of military sanctions and I still feel the U.S. should exercise its discretion not to provide military assistance."

"The Pakistani dictatorial government has been in the past directly involved in the planning and logistical support of Taliban military operations," Pallone continued. "Not only has Pakistan provided institutional support to terrorist activities by the Taliban and other groups, it has also provided weapons as a result of its irresponsible weapons export policies. Withholding military assistance to Pakistan will help pressure Musharraf to withdraw its support to terrorist groups."

In October, Pallone was one of the only Members of Congress who spoke out in opposition of the lifting of military sanctions against Pakistan. While Pallone opposes the lifting of these sanctions, he continues to support the lifting of economic assistance to Pakistan for General Musharraf's willingness to support the U.S. in seizing Osama bin Laden and eliminating the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Pallone said that he is concerned that any U.S. arms exports to Pakistan would be used, as they have been used in the past, against India, primarily through cross-border military action in Kashmir. The New Jersey Congressman, founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, pointed to the terrifying escalation of terrorism in India since October 1st when a suicide car bomb exploded in front of the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly while it was in session. Since that time, Pallone said there have been terrorist activities on a daily basis in Kashmir.

"Last week I read that suspected terrorists shot and killed a judge in Kashmir, along with his friend and two guards," Pallone recollected. "This is the first attack on the judiciary of Jammu and Kashmir state. Then over the weekend I read that an Islamic militant group invaded an Indian army convoy in Kashmir and the attack left nearly 10 men dead and over 20 wounded."

"These examples of murder by Pakistani-based militant groups should be evidence enough that weapons can and will fall into the hands of terrorist networks and potentially be used against India and other U.S. allies," Pallone continued. "I realize that the Bush administration is not proposing any major change in policy with regard to military assistance to Pakistan, but with removal of congressional sanctions, stepped up military assistance remains a possibility. I continue to oppose that option, and I believe that the circumstances in Pakistan this weekend and over the last few weeks still do not warrant that kind of military assistance."

Pallone also voiced concern over another New York Times article reporting "American intelligence officials are increasingly convinced that Pakistan may become the site of a furtive struggle between those trying to keep nuclear technology secure and those looking to export it for terrorism or for profit."

"A country with nuclear power that has links to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda is a recipe for disaster," Pallone said.