Congressman Frank Pallone, founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, has fired off a letter to President George W Bush expressing his deep concern regarding Pakistan's involvement in providing nuclear equipment to Iran.
In his missive, a copy of which was made available to rediff.com, the New Jersey lawmaker wrote that "press reports now indicate Pakistan's involvement with Iran's nuclear program was more widespread than previously realized".
"I ask that you immediately impose Symington sanctions on Pakistan as a result of its active yet covert nuclear exchange program."
Pallone acknowledged: "I was encouraged by your administration's past role in publicly recognizing Pakistan's covert nuclear weapons programs with North Korea and Iran. In particular, the US contract and licensing sanctions that were placed on the Khan Research Laboratories nuclear firm in Pakistan in April confirmed US commitment to dampening Pakistan's nuclear commerce."
However, Pallone argued in his letter that "the evidence recently reported which implicates Pakistan in acting as a critical nuclear resource for countries such as North Korea, Iran, and possibly other rogue nations that do not have an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, calls for timely punitive sanctions on Pakistan under the Symington Amendment to the Arms Control Export Control Act."
He told Bush, "By exercising your authority to re-impose these sanctions, you would appropriately prevent the US from further providing military assistance to Pakistan as a result of its clandestine nuclear exchanges."
When Bush hosted Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at Camp David in June this year, he pledged $3 billion in American economic and military largesse to Pakistan for its support as a frontline ally in the US-led global war on terrorism, but it was conditioned on Islamabad eschewing any support or sponsorship of militant groups fomenting terrorism against India, a commitment to nuclear and missile non-proliferation and a return to civilian rule.
Pallone reminded Bush that Pakistan "has claimed that it has not acted as a nuclear source with President Musharraf's knowledge, however, he has admitted to his country's role in nuclear exchange even after September 11, 2001 and had promised no further activity of this nature, a promise that was not kept."
The lawmaker informed Bush that "in fact, during your meeting with President Musharraf at Camp David in late June of this year, you instituted a requirement that in order for the US to provide further military assistance, Pakistan must prove that it no longer participates in nuclear exchange with rogue nations".
"I implore you to keep your promise to protect American security by sanctioning Pakistan for its behavior," Pallone urged. "Until the evidence shows that Pakistan is not assisting potential terrorists and dictator regimes with nuclear technology, we cannot risk putting American military dollars on the line."
"Pakistan has acted as an active supporter of the US-led fight against terror," the lawmaker acknowledged, but asserted, "as each day goes by, it is becoming extremely clear that Pakistan is not an ally that can be trusted on nuclear non-proliferation."
"Beyond the issue of assuring all Americans that your Administration does not support Pakistan nuclear technology development and exchange, it is now more important than ever to question President Musharraf's commitment to democracy in Pakistan and his willingness to eliminate Pakistani militant infiltration in Kashmir," Pallone added.
He called on Bush to "put greater pressure on Musharraf to return Pakistan to a democracy and to end support for terrorism in Kashmir".
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