Congressional Statements

Pallone reaches out to Co-Chairs of Indo-US Parliamentary Forum in preparation for their visit to Washington in June

Press Release
May 29, 2002

Several weeks before members of the recently formed Indo-U.S. Parliamentary Forum are scheduled to arrive in Washington for meetings with U.S. governmental officials, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today sent a letter to the co-chairmen of the Forum citing five different issue areas he believes the Forum and members of the U.S. Congress could address in an effort to further improve U.S.-India relations.

Pallone, who attended the official announcement of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi in March, believes the meetings next month are the best environment for members of the Forum and the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans to discuss ways the two can work together.

In an attempt to create a dialogue before those meetings next month, Pallone sent a four-page letter today to Shri Rajeev Shukla, Convening Chairman of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, and Shri Kapil Sibal, Co-chair of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, asking questions and commenting on issues pertaining to economic relations, Kashmir, defense, humanitarian assistance and the environment.

"As the two largest democracies in the world, the United States and India are natural allies and over the years, the relations between our two countries have blossomed," Pallone wrote in his letter to the leaders of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum. "It is important that US-India relations continue to develop and in order to ensure that our relationship grows closer, it is imperative that we reflect on several issue areas where there is potential room for improvement."

Pallone said the most important issue U.S. Congress and Forum members could address is the current situation in Kashmir and the escalating conflict with Pakistan. The New Jersey Congressman believes the United States should assert more pressure on Pakistan to stop militants infiltrating Kashmir at the border.

"In the past, India's policy on Kashmir has been to discourage third party intervention in negotiating a resolution of the conflict," Pallone continued. "Is there some role you would like the U.S. to play other than encouraging bilateral negotiations?"

The New Jersey Congressman also asked the two Indian leaders their opinions on how best the two groups can work together to strengthen economic relations between the two nations. Pallone wrote that he was concerned that despite the lifting of all economic sanctions against India last year, trade and investment between the two nations has actually decreased.

"I am interested to know what steps the U.S. Congress can take to improve trade and investment in India and I would like to propose that the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum work with us to address the potential solutions to current trade and investment barriers," Pallone wrote. "The recent decrease in trade is a concern to us all and we must work together to turn this situation around and restore and expand economic relations between our two countries."

Pallone also asked the two leaders whether or not they are satisfied with the strengthened defense ties between the two nations. He questioned whether the purpose should be limited to just military exercises and arms sales, or should be expanded to a NATO like formal alliance.

"Our most pressing concern regarding defense is India's nuclear capability," Pallone continued in his letter. "At this point in time in our defense relationship, the U.S. still does not understand India's nuclear role and I feel that this is the biggest potential for disruption between the U.S.-India relationship. Are we at a point in our defense relationship where the U.S. needs better understanding of or a formal acknowledgment of India's nuclear role?"

The two leaders of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum will be in Washington with more than a dozen of their colleagues during the week of June 17 for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) 2002 Summer Meeting. Pallone, founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, will be joined by other members of the Caucus at the meeting entitled "US-India Synergy: The Future of Our Economic & Political Partnership."