Crowley Expresses Concern Over Aid to Pakistan, Fair Treatment of Kashmir Situation

Washington, DC-Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (NY-07) was at a Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness Hearing on "Decades of Terror: Exploring Human Rights Abuses in Kashmir and the Disputed Territories." This one sided hearing was called by Chairman Dan Burton (R-IN), a notorious supporter of Pakistan.

"This past January, I was in India during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit (SAARC)," said Congressman Crowley. "A breakthrough came when Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf agreed to talks on Kashmir. I am hopeful that peace between both Pakistan and India might finally have the opportunity to be achieved. Since the historic meeting at the SAARC Summit, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan agreed to a "road map" of planned meetings to discuss Kashmir, terrorism, and nuclear weapons. While these talks go on, Pakistan must fulfill its promises to crack down on terrorist groups who continue to cross the border into India. Cross border infiltration must cease before a true peace can be reached."

Congressman Crowley continued, "I plan on working with the Appropriations Committee to alter the Administration's three billion dollar aid package to Pakistan. While the US needs to continue its support of Pakistan in our war on terrorism, conditions must be placed on the aid to ensure that it is going to fight terrorism and not into the hands of the terrorists or to threaten India. I will promote increasing the level of economic aid by decreasing what the Pakistani military will receive. An economically viable Pakistan is in the interest of the US and India. A strong economy creates a stable nation, which I think we all agree is in our interests."

Congressman Crowley wants to see the cessation of "cross-border infiltration" by separatist militants based in Pakistan and/or Pakistani Kashmir who cross the Kashmiri Line of Control (LOC) and who have been implicated in terrorist activities in Indian Kashmir and in Indian cities. Congressman Crowley attended the Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness hearing, chaired by Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), to ensure that there was a fair and balanced approach to this hearing, with the feelings of India and the Indian people taken into account. India has suffered from terrorist attacks by infiltrations from Pakistani militants in Kashmir and in India, causing 85,000 people to lose their lives over the past 25 years.

Congressman Crowley is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. He represents the second largest South Asian community in the United States, based in Jackson Heights, Queens.