July 20, 1999
Washington, D.C.

NAMASTE and Welcome to Washington.

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.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory, which recognizes the contribution of a great Indian American, named for the late astrophysicist, is a 4 1/2-story colossus and is the world's mightiest and costliest X-ray telescope on a five-year voyage to probe deep into the hearts of galaxies and search for signs of black holes. It was scheduled to be launched today but the lift-off is now set for Thursday.

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.

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

We in Congress, especially those of us in the House International Relations Committee, acted swiftly and vigorously to ensure the diplomatic isolation of Pakistan in the international arena. I believe that my substitute Amendment incorporating tough language that urged the Administration to consider loan sanctions against Pakistan helped exert considerable direct pressure on that nation'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 Sharif. As you all know by now, Clinton and his foreign policy advisors left Sharif with no choice but to end the Kargil aggression.

I commend all my colleagues in Congress and President Clinton for the forceful and positive role they played in ending the showdown between the newest nuclear powers. The international community must insure that the future is protected from more Kargils.

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. The issue has to be resolved bilaterally, by the parties themselves.

And before the two sides can resume a meaningful dialogue, the rulers of Pakistan must initiate credible efforts to restore trust with the government and people of India. It will take time for the wounds of Kargil to heal and therefore it will be unrealistic for anyone to expect a quick resumption of dialogue.

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

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. Next, it must put an end to its support for terrorist and other militant outfits who indulge in cross-border acts of terror and violence.

If the so-called 'Mujahiddin' fighters of Kashmir could be pulled back so swiftly by Prime Minister Sharif and his military from the Himalayan peaks of Kargil, then it should indeed be very easy for the Pakistani authorities to cut off and disown all terror groups that operate from Pakistani soil. My clear message to Pakistan is simple: 'Close Down Those Terrorist Training Camps - Now.'

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. I urge the Clinton Administration, which has thus far performed superbly in dealing with the Kargil crisis, to push for these actions from Islamabad.

In the House this week, we are set to consider an anti-India amendment that seeks to cut off the small aid program we have for New Delhi. The proposed Amendment aims to withhold U.S. assistance from countries that voted with the U.S. less than 25 percent 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.

Also in the House, yesterday we 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. We intend to work very closely with Chairman Gilman and Rep. Gedjensen and the leadership of both parties to build upon this foundation.

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; That it's a responsible nuclear power; That it doesn't get provoked easily; That 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.

With Chairman Gilman's leadership and lots of help from your community, I'm convinced we can accomplish this.