Pallone Speaks out Against Pakistani Link to Terrorists who Bombed Mumbai

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder and former co-chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, gave the following statement this morning on the floor of the United States House of Representatives regarding the link between Pakistan and the bombing last week in Mumbai.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express concern about Pakistan's links to last week's terrorist attacks on Indian civilians. Although slow moving, the peace process between India and Pakistan was promising and I'm afraid that Pakistan now stands in the way of further progress.

"First, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of these devastating attacks. On the same day that terrorists hit Mumbai trains in the evening, similar coordinated attacks occurred in Srinagar, Kashmir earlier in the morning. As a result, over 200 people have died and more than 700 injured. These attacks were senseless acts of terrorism and violence. I am confident that Indian officials will find the person or organization responsible for these disasters and bring them to swift justice.

"Mr. Speaker, the government of India has made a strong commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms. Like the United States, nothing has deterred their firm policy to fight this regional and global menace. Unfortunately, Pakistan has not proven this same commitment. The government still lacks the appropriate law and order that is necessary to deter terrorist cells from looming and growing within their borders.

"Over the past few days, it is becoming clearer that the terror units responsible for the attacks in India and Jammu and Kashmir were initiated and supported by elements in Pakistan. All leads are now pointing to the involvement of Lashkar-e-Tayiba, a terrorist organization that has received support from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.

"Lashkar-e-Tayyaba is a group active in the anti-Indian insurgency in Kashmir. Although the group is outlawed in Pakistan, it continues to function under other guises. In fact, their leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed enjoys freedom in Pakistan despite this official ban on his organizations by the Pakistani administration.

"The group is also blamed for several other attacks on Indian soil in recent years, including the attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 that almost instigated another war between the two countries. Since then, India and Pakistan have been engaged in peace talks over Kashmir. Violence had declined until recent weeks. Though no "official" deal over Kashmir has been made yet, talks between the countries have led to prisoner releases, increased tourist visas to each country and bus and train links across the divided region.

"However, Pakistan's failure to rein in terrorist organizations operating within its borders is threatening the peace process. Despite having vowed in 2004 not to allow any part of the territory under its control be used by terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the Pakistani government has simply watched while terrorist attacks took place in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.

"Pakistan has not implemented its promise to stop the terrorism. Acts of violence continue to occur on their watch and the people of India and Kashmir are suffering. Pakistan must begin to demonstrate their commitment to the global war on terrorism. It must live up to its end of the bargain and control the violence. Otherwise, it will become exceedingly difficult for India to sustain the peace initiative.

"Mr. Speaker, the spirit of the people of Mumbai and Jammu and Kashmir has demonstrated very strongly that terrorism cannot and will not succeed in destroying a people or a nation. My only hope is that these attacks strengthen the resolve of the government of Pakistan in combating Islamic terrorism. Pakistan must not let Islamic extremism undermine the peace process."