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Ackerman Challenges Pakistan To Reverse 'The Betrayal' of Lahore Declaration

A P Kamath in Washington

One of Pakistan's harshest critics in Washington, Congressman Gary L Ackerman did not stop with calling Islamabad an aggressor in Kargil. He has challenged Pakistan to demonstrate its seriousness about peace by restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

"If the so-called Mujahideen of Kashmir could be pulled back so swiftly by Prime Minister Sharief and his military from the Himalayan peaks of Kargil," Ackerman said, "Then it should indeed be very easy for the Pakistani authorities to cut off and disown all terror groups that operate from Pakistani soil."

Ackerman (Democrat-New York), a leading member of the House International Relations Committee and Co-Chairman of the Congressional caucus on India and Indian Americans, was addressing the annual Legislative conference of the Indian American Friendship Council on July 20. During the past six weeks, he has addressed a number of Indian American gatherings exhorting Indians across America to step up the pressure on their lawmakers to appreciate Indian defense efforts.

He asked Washington to recognize and honor India for its "mature" response to the Kargil aggression, and asked his fellow legislators to defeat a legislation aimed against India. Calling the recent pro-India tilt by the Administration as "unique," Ackerman complimented the Indian American community and various Indian associations across America for putting pressure on their elected leaders to recognize the aggressor in Kargil.

"The international community must insure that the future is protected from more Kargils," he said, reminding the gathering that they should not rest till Pakistan really understands that it cannot be an aggressor nor back the so-called freedom-fighters..

"My clear message to Pakistan is simple: 'Close Down Those Terrorist Training Camps - Now'."

Ackerman also demanded Pakistan "should immediately demonstrate to the world that it accepts the inviolability of the Line of Control in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir."

These two "bare minimum acts" by Pakistan could help reverse the "betrayal of the Lahore Declaration" and give the Indian side some confidence to resume a meaningful dialogue, he said. He then urged the Clinton Administration, "which has thus far performed superbly in dealing with the Kargil crisis, to push for these actions from Islamabad."

Ackerman's speech came on the even of the House of Representatives is set to consider an anti-India amendment that seeks to cut off the small aid program Washington has for New Delhi. The proposed Amendment aims to withhold US assistance from countries that voted with the US less than 25 per cent of the time at the United Nations.

"Along with several members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, my co-Chairman, Jim Greenwood, and I expect to beat back this short-sighted Amendment," Ackerman said, once again receiving long applause.

He noted how on July 19 the House passed a measure that extends by one year the waiver authority for the President to lift sanctions against India.

"As an opening legislative gambit, I welcome the measure. But we need to improve this proposal. It's time for the international community, and the United States in particular, to properly recognize India for its stellar conduct during the recent Kargil aggression," Ackerman said.

"India has demonstrated that it's a mature nation," he added, referring to what many in Washington consider to be New Delhi's extraordinary restrained action.

The Congressman began his speech referring to the Chandra Observatory: "This week, one of the most illustrious Indian Americans ever is being honored by our nation. Nobel Prize winner, Dr Subrahmanyam Chandrashekhar, the late astrophysicist, is being honored by NASA with the launch of 'Chandra' by the Space Shuttle, Columbia."

He added: "I'm sure you will agree that it's only fitting that you are all gathered here today to fulfill another aspect of your aspirations -- political empowerment."

"This is an important pursuit and your community has made impressive strides in this quest thanks to organizations such as the Indian American Friendship Council," he continued.

"The recent Kargil episode has clearly demonstrated that both Congress and the Administration unambiguously saw who the aggressor was and who the victim," he said.

"For the first time on the Kashmir issue, both Congress and the Administration spoke with one voice -- that Pakistan had to pull back its forces from the Indian side of the Line of Control.

"It was gratifying for many of us to see a clear pro-India tilt sweep this city. And this unique phenomenon was made possible in no small measure because of the political activism of the Indian American community."

"It was your victory. It was our victory. It was America's victory. We prevailed because we supported the side that was morally correct. And there's no doubt in any one's mind that India was morally correct."

Ackerman added that he believed that his own Amendment incorporating tough language that urged the Administration to consider loan sanctions against Pakistan helped exert considerable direct pressure on Islamabad's military and political leadership.

"I also believe that our move strengthened the hands of President Clinton when he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief," he continued.

"As you all know by now, Clinton and his foreign policy advisors left Sharief, with no choice but to end the Kargil aggression.

"The Kashmir issue can never be resolved by military means. It can only be resolved by mutual dialogue between India and Pakistan within the framework of the Shimla Accord of 1972," he continued. "The issue has to be resolved bilaterally, by the parties themselves."

He did not expect a quick resumption of dialogue. For he knew it will take time for the wounds to heal.

"Besides, the rulers of Pakistan must initiate credible efforts to restore trust with the government and people of India."

"The 'Spirit of Lahore' has received a body blow and unless Pakistan demonstrates genuine goodwill and honestly rebuilds the bonds of trust with India, " he warned. "No dramatic upswing should be foreseen in the ties between New Delhi and Islamabad."

.Ackerman was widely cheered when he declared : "It's time for the international community, and the United States in particular, to properly recognize India for its stellar conduct during the recent Kargil aggression."

"India has demonstrated that it's a mature nation," he continued. "That it's a responsible nuclear power; that it doesn't get provoked easily; 5hat it knows real power means acting with restraint."

"I strongly believe that now is the time for Congress to recognize India for its outstanding display of statesmanship. And the best way to do that will be for Congress to do away with the sanctions imposed on India -- not for one year; not for five years, but permanently."

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