Dear President Clinton:

I am concerned with several aspects of our sanctions policy toward India. Your administration has made clear from the outset from the outset that our imposition of sanctions on India are not a punitive measure and are in place to restore constructive engagement. I submit that our policy is having the opposite effect, and that we are, in fact, alienating the world's largest democracy and one of our long-standing allies.

The basis of U.S. sanctions policy toward India is to counter the perceived proliferation threat caused by the series of weapons testing at the Indian-Pakistan border. By no means do I condone nuclear testing in any comer of the world, but I believe our response to India's nuclear testing and the pursuant threat of proliferation is not consistent with your Administration's past policy. India has been a responsible nuclear state since 1974 and has no record of weapons proliferation. In fact, India has been a peace loving country, which has never taken an aggressive stance toward another nation. The same cannot be said for China, however, a nuclear power itself. Instead, China is a known weapons proliferator and, in many cases, has traded weapons and nuclear technologies to countries bordering India. China's behavior has increasingly called for a defensive posture by the Indian government and, in large part, has prompted India's testing. Yet China's well-documented proliferation policy has had no bearing on U.S.-Sino relations, further exacerbating India's insecurity and adding to the instability of the region

I believe and support your resolve to thwart nuclear proliferation in Asia. The focus of our current policy, however, is misplaced. With the assistance of the U.S., tensions between India and Pakistan can be allayed diplomatically. Our objectives in the region can be met without the use of sanctions. As a result of effective U. -S. leadership, the Indian government has already signaled its willingness to refrain from further nuclear testing. Such progress is encouraging and lends merit to the argument that your sanctions policy is unnecessary.

Since the liberalization of India's economic policies five years ago, the U.S. has worked in concert with the Indian government to establish freer flowing lines of trade. This mutually beneficial relationship has now come to a sudden halt. I urge you to work closely with Congress to overcome the impasse and reclaim our position as India's leading trade partner.

Sincerely,
Lauch Faircloth
United States Senator