Ackerman and many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill have for long questioned the rationale of giving the F-16s to Pakistan as a part of the war on terror. The congressmen now want a comprehensive statement from senior officials about the complete scope of the F-16 programme with Pakistan that include the number of planes, updates made to existing planes, proposed armaments, schedule of delivery and source of payment.
"Our success will depend chiefly on reforms taken in Pakistan by Pakistanis. And I see little in this bill to provide any assurance that such changes are on the way. I fear we are again choosing to be Pakistan's patron rather than its partner," Congressman Gary Ackerman said.
With regard to the sale of the new 18 F-16's that Pakistan has requested -- the C/D block 50/52s combat aircraft, he said, "We have not come to a final decision on how to proceed with this, and I know your body is looking at it very carefully," Holbrooke told Congressman Gary Ackerman, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia.
International sanctions need to be imposed on any government that helps terrorists anywhere in the world, New York Democrat Gary Ackerman, who is serving his 14th term in the United States Congress, stated on Monday.Ackerman, who was addressing the audience on the inaugural day of a two-day conference on 'Israel and India: A Relationship Comes of Age' in New York, did not name any country.
"The resolution expresses our unwavering support in the wake of this brutal attack for Pakistan to be restored to a full democracy. The resolution also reaffirms the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorism, and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan," Ackerman said.
Geoff Dyer has written about jazz (But Beautiful, which won him the Somerset Maugham Award), photography (The Ongoing Moment that fetched him the International Center of Photography's Infinity Award) and his humorous travelogue Yoga for People Who Can't be Bothered to Do It has been a bestseller.
The resolution was introduced on Thursday by Congressional panel on the Middle East and South Asia Chairman Gary Ackerman, a senior Democrat. Ackerman said the Bush Administration had, for too long, relied on one man to achieve the US anti-terrorism objectives in Pakistan. The President (Bush) has ignored democratic development there and turned a blind eye as General Musharraf has manipulated the political process to ensure his continued tenure in office.
He will largely play a behind-the-scenes role and will sit in on the high-level meetings between the US and Indian teams so as to ensure that India's strategic and nuclear establishment's interests are not compromised
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers comprising erstwhile and current co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans have circulated a letter among their colleagues expressing their strong support for the US-India civilian nuclear agreement and included in their 'Dear Colleague' letter a copy of the September 12 Washington Post editorial titled 'Yes for an Answer: Why Congress should expedite approval of the US-India nuclear accord."
The prime focus of the hearing is to review the findings of International Institute for Strategic Studies about the Khan cartel
Singh accepted Bush's invitation to visit the US again and said a mutually convenient date would be worked out.
The warning came despite assertion by visiting Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on Tuesday that India's dealings with Iran were not in any way a contravention of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Pro-deal lawmakers like Congressman Gary Ackerman continue to express their angst over the close India-Iran ties. The lawmakers have warned that this could be a spoiler to the envisaged strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi.
An influential US lawmaker, who heads the Congressional Committee that has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the subcontinent, has warned that South Asia poses the greatest terrorist threat to the United States. Congressman Gary L Ackerman, New York Democrat, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, declared, "South Asia is arguably the place from which America faces the greatest terrorist threat."
McDermott last co-chaired the Caucus from 2000-2002 and Wilson from 2002-2004. They will succeed Representatives Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat and Ileana Ros Lehtinen, Florida Republican.
Holbrooke declared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, "We do not think that Pakistan is a failed State. We think it's a State under extreme test from the enemies who are also our enemies and who have the same common enemy -- the United States and Pakistan. It just isn't (a failed State). But it is a State under enormous social, political and economic pressure. And India is always a factor."
K Alan Kronstadt, a specialist in South Asian affairs for the US Congressional Research Service, on how more US oversight on funding to fight terror in Pakistan could help both countries and even India.
A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the terrorist outfit responsible for 26/11 and the attack on Indian Parliament would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world in particular the US, top experts have told American lawmakers.
US Congressman Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia, Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Pakistani military, accusing it of continuing to tolerate and pander to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, the terrorist outfit that carried out the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Congressman Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, introduced the resolution, which was voted 413-0.
Diplomatic and political observers in Washington said that the controversy had now moved beyond simply targeting Chatwal and a deliberate effort to embarrass Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Principal Secretary T K A Nair by not just the saffron lobby but by vested interests within the Congress.
Pointing to The Washington Post piece on Monday about the dramatic expansion in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, Ackerman said the import of the story is "truly alarming" in the context of a pending sale by US of F-16 fighter-bombers.
AQ Khan's network has done incalculable and potentially catastrophic damage to international security, a panel has said.
The Punjab batsman gave the initiative to Leicestershire on a fruitful day against Essex.
Team India discard Zaheer Khan continues to sizzle in county cricket.
Energy security concerns figured prominently during talks Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal had with several US senators and Congressmen in Washington.
Participants included members of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
Burns said, "We'll continue to watch India's relations with Iran, and we'll obviously respond very respectfully to any concerns by members of our own Congress as we should do."
While Rosie's rallying cry of "We Can Do It" is eerily similar to President-elect Barack Obama's "Yes We Can," some women are saying "No, We Can't."
Reports in the media on Friday said US Senator Tom Lantos had written a letter to the prime minister asking India to 'sever' military ties with Iran and "terminate" all cooperation in the energy sector.
"Such co-operation raises renewed questions about the possible diversion of sensitive technology to Iran, for which Indian entities have been sanctioned in recent years, including US-origin technology provided to India."
The lawmakers were concerned about India keeping up its conditions for the deal.
Maintaining that it would be foolish to squander away the gains in the bilateral relationship of the last decade, especially over the last three years, the New York Democrat, who is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Sub Committee on Middle East and South Asia, said he strongly supported the 123 Agreement, which will operationalise the nuclear deal.
Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat, while acknowledging that he has been one of the strongest critics of President George Bush on his foreign policy, has said however, that in the case of India, Bush had got it "absolutely right."
Murali Karthik made an impressive debut for Lancashire as he took five for 93 runs in the Frizzell County Championships match
India has handed over a cheque of $5 million to the United States for relief activities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Dinesh Mongia slammed an unbeaten 92 off 93 balls and snared two wickets to guide Leicestershire to a five-wicket victory over Sussex
Dinesh Mongia's three-wicket haul couldn't prevent Leicestershire from losing Somerset in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 Cup.
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