Congressional Statements

Pallone calls on President Bush to block proposed arms sale to Pakistan

Press Release
November 18, 2004

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, today called on President Bush to block a proposed sale of arms to Pakistan.

The request follows an announcement out of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that it intends to sell weapons to Pakistan, including eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft valued at up to $970 million, 2,000 TOW-2A missiles and 14 TOW-2A Fly-to-Buy missiles valued at $82 million.

Pallone sent a letter to the president today asking that he reconsider the DoD's short-sided proposal.

"I urge you to reexamine the interests and priorities of the U.S. and to take a strong position against selling arms to Pakistan both now and in the future," the New Jersey congressman wrote in the letter to President Bush.

"Your administration's policies with respect to military assistance and now military sales to Pakistan are contributing to increased security concerns throughout South Asia, and particularly to India," Pallone continued. "We all agree that Pakistan has been an ally in the global war on terror, however Pakistan has not taken steps to end terrorism in its own backyard and foreign military assistance to Pakistan has oftentimes been used against India."

In the letter, Pallone expressed disappointment regarding the Major Non-NATO Alliance status that was bestowed upon Pakistan because it allowed Pakistan to purchase military equipment that is not normally sanctioned to a country that is not under democratic rule.

"Pakistan unfortunately continues to remain under military rule and is not taking meaningful steps to return to a democracy, therefore I support democracy sanctions that would prohibit military assistance to Pakistan entirely," Pallone said. "Moreover, I feel that it is unprecedented for the Pentagon to be engaging in weapons sales with Pakistan due to its political instability."

Text of Pallone's letter follows.

November 18, 2004

President George Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the Pentagon's three proposed arms-sales to Pakistan.

From what I understand, the Pentagon has proposed sales of weapons to Pakistan, including eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft valued at up to $970 million and 2,000 TOW-2A missiles and 14 TOW-2A Fly-to-Buy missiles valued at $82 million. It is undoubted that Pakistan has been an ally in the war on terror, however I urge you to block these proposed arms sales for several reasons.

I was extremely disappointed to learn of the Major Non-NATO Alliance status that was bestowed upon Pakistan earlier this year because it allowed Pakistan to purchase military equipment that is not normally sanctioned to a country that is not under democratic rule. Pakistan unfortunately continues to remain under military rule and is not taking meaningful steps to return to a democracy, therefore I support democracy sanctions that would prohibit military assistance to Pakistan entirely. Moreover, I feel that it is unprecedented for the Pentagon to be engaging in weapons sales with Pakistan due to its political instability.

Your administration's policies with respect to military assistance and now military sales to Pakistan are contributing to increased security concerns throughout South Asia, and particularly to India. We all agree that Pakistan has been an ally in the global war on terror, however Pakistan has not taken steps to end terrorism in its own backyard and foreign military assistance to Pakistan has oftentimes been used against India.

I urge you to reexamine the interests and priorities of the U.S. and to take a strong position against selling arms to Pakistan both now and in the future.

Sincerely,
Frank Pallone, Jr.