STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN ROD BLAGOJEVICH (D-IL) AND CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH (D-IL)

We were greatly encouraged earlier this year when India and Pakistan agreed at Lahore to adopt measures for promoting a stable environment of peace and security between the two countries.  We are, therefore, greatly disappointed that, contrary to the letter and spirit of the Lahore Declaration, a considerable amount of well-trained and heavily armed Afghani and Mujahideen terrorists with links with Osama Bin Laden and Harkat -ul - Mujahideen infiltrated from Pakistan into the Indian side of the Line of Control.

The Indian security forces have been forced to take armed action to defend its territory against the foreign mercenaries who have sought to disturb the Line of Control, caused deaths of a large number of people, and forced thousands of local residents to flee for refuge.

Many unanswered questions remain as to how these militants were able to station themselves at 12,000 -14, 000 feet above sea level, obtain food and other supplies to survive the cold and sparse environment for an extended period of time, and equip themselves with technologically advanced weapons.  There is clearly an indication of outside financial and technical support that must have come from some government body.

We, as Members of Congress, believe that India is within its rights to vacate the armed intruders from its territory.  We also appreciate the restraint shown by security forces not crossing the Line of Control into Pakistan.  We call upon the concerned parties to end the armed intrusion and to cease all hostile and destablizing activities in Jammu and Kashmir which are in violation of the Lahore Declaration.  In this context, we support the forthright statement of Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth that: "Clearly, the Indians are not going to cede this territory that these militants have taken.  They have to depart, and they will depart, either voluntarily or because the Indians take them out."