Condemning the Mumbai terrorist attacks that led to heightened tension between India and Pakistan, a 'peace resolution' asking the two South Asian neighbours to continue with their peace process was on Friday introduced in the US House of Representatives.
The 'India-Pakistan Peace Resolution', introduced by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee lists peace initiatives and talks between the two countries from the time of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to the September 16, 2006 joint statement issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
Condemning all acts of terrorism including the November 26 Mumbai attacks, the resolution 'applauds Prime Minister Singh and President Musharraf for their leadership in bringing the two nations together'.
The resolution by Jackson-Lee, who hails from President George W Bush's home state of Texas, 'calls upon both India and Pakistan to continue down this path of peace process so that their children may realize a harmonious future'.
Recognizing the historic steps India and Pakistan have taken towards achieving bilateral peace in recent years, the resolution congratulates the countries 'on taking monumental steps towards achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.'
However, it makes no mention of the ongoing heightened tension between the two countries in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attack. It also has no reference to the Indo-Pak joint statement issued in September following the New York meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
The resolution has been sent to the House Foreign Relations Committee for necessary action as is the routine procedure.
