Congressional Statements

Pallone voices concern over Bush decision to provide Pakistan new military assistance

Press Release
March 18, 2003

Washington, D.C. --- Three days after President Bush announced an extension of the waiver on democracy sanctions against Pakistan that will allow him to send millions of dollars in military assistance to Pakistan, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today voiced his concern over the proposal.

"Since the day Musharraf became a military dictator, he has steered Pakistan away from democracy," Pallone wrote in a letter to President Bush. "Therefore, I do not approve of military aid until Musharraf takes immediate steps to return Pakistan to a democracy."

Democracy sanctions, which prohibit aid to any nation whose democratically-elected government has been deposed, were activated against Pakistan after the 1999 coup by General Pervez Musharraf. Congress first waived the sanctions in October 2001 when Pakistan became an ally in the war in Afghanistan. On March 15 2003, President Bush extended the waiver in order to allow the release of $1 billion of debt relief and $305 million in economic and military assistance allocated by Congress in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 budget.

"This waiver dispenses with the final set of punitive measures by the United States against Pakistan, yet we have not seen a commitment from Pakistan to return to a democracy, nor any evidence that Pakistan has ended its relationship with North Korea," Pallone continued. "There is also the possibility that military assistance to Pakistan could be used against India in a potential conflict."

Pallone wrote of his concern over reports that Pakistan has been found to partner with North Korea in a clandestine nuclear exchange whereby Pakistan has provided nuclear materials to North Korea in exchange for military equipment. The New Jersey congressman wrote this violation, in addition to Pakistan's support for militant activity in Kashmir, provides further strength to the argument that Pakistan should not receive military aid from the United States.

Pallone reiterated his appreciation for Pakistan's role in assisting the United States in the war against terrorism, especially Pakistan's recent support in tracking down and arresting senior members of Al-Qaeda, however he stated that democracy sanctions should not be waived until Pakistan implements measures that transition the country towards democracy.

In his letter to the president, Pallone, cofounder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, wrote that he intends to reintroduce legislation this week that would reinstate the democracy sanctions on Pakistan, which would prohibit military assistance.