Congressional Statements

Pallone Links U.S. Economic Assistance to Pakistan to improvements along Kashmir line of control

Asks U.S. To Deny U.S. Military Assistance

Press Release
June 18, 2002

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), cofounder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, gave the following statement on the House floor this evening.

"Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity on the House floor this evening to raise my concerns regarding U.S. financial assistance to Pakistan. Mr. Speaker, I understand that after September 11, the U.S. needed to coordinate with President Musharraf because of Pakistan's proximity to Afghanistan. Although the U.S. worked with Musharraf in the war against terror, I was skeptical and I still remain skeptical that Musharraf could fight both global terrorism and local terrorism by Islamic fundamentalists that still takes place in Kashmir and India.

"It is now clear that Musharraf's promises to crack down on terrorists at the line of control in Kashmir and to crack down on terrorist camps and schools in Pakistan were just promises that went unfulfilled. When a leader says that he will crack down on terrorism, but in the same breath make statements like "Kashmir runs in our blood" or refer to terrorists as "freedom fighters", that should be evidence enough that he is not truthful about ending terrorism.

"Regardless of Musharraf's empty promises on fighting terrorism in Kashmir and despite Musharraf's lies about holding democratic elections, The U.S. in FY 2002 allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan in both economic and military aid. The U.S. provided $600 million in economic assistance in FY 2002, $73 million for border security, $75 million in FMF in the supplemental and $50 million in military assistance. In addition, the recently passed supplemental contained $40 million for Pakistan and an additional $250 million is being sought by the Administration for economic development and assistance. I agree that Pakistan is in dire need of economic and humanitarian assistance, but I strongly objected to the military assistance provided to Pakistan by the U.S., especially considering the fact that Pakistan was not and still is not a democracy.

"Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for us to evaluate the situation in Pakistan before setting aside further money in FY 2003 for economic aid to Pakistan and certainly for military assistance to Pakistan. The atmosphere post-September 11 was different and it was appropriate for the U.S. to provide aid to Pakistan since Musharraf was helpful to the U.S. in fighting the Taliban. At this point in time, however, the violence in Kashmir has escalated and the overall situation of terrorism in Kashmir and throughout India charges Musharraf with the responsibility once and for all to stop infiltration at the border in Kashmir and to eliminate terrorist training camps and schools.

"With violence against civilians in Kashmir taking place on a near daily basis, and with nearly a million troops lined up along the Pakistan and India border, Musharraf has no choice but to keep his promise of stopping infiltration of Islamic fundamentalists who now claim "Kashmir jihad" from entering Kashmir. I do not think it is appropriate for the U.S. To provide any further aid to Pakistan if this promise is not kept. In addition, Musharraf needs to go further than stopping infiltration - he must eradicate the training camps and schools operating in Pakistan. These schools breed terrorists and in order to permanently end terrorism in Kashmir, Musharraf must go to the heart of the problem and put an end to the breeding of terrorism at these training camps.

"In addition, there must be some system for ensuring that Pakistan is accountable for the money that has been allocated by the U.S. We should demand evidence that although economic aid may be going to schools and other social projects, that the investment is not then freeing up money that is reallocated towards weapons for Islamic militants and resources at terrorist training camps.

"Mr. Speaker, I am so concerned about the U.S. providing further funds to Pakistan without Musharraf holding his word, that I am planning on sending a letter to the Foreign Operations appropriators to apprise them of the current situation and to encourage them to provide economic aid to Pakistan only on the condition that Musharraf does in fact take concrete steps to alleviate terrorism in Kashmir and to eliminate terrorist training camps. In addition, I would like to note that I plan to encourage the appropriators to steer clear of providing any military aid to Pakistan, regardless of the progress Musharraf makes on terrorism prevention."