IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 353

Supporting a landmark initiative in bilateral energy cooperation between India 

and Pakistan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 11, 2005

Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. JACKSON-LEE

of Texas, and Mr. PITTS) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION

Supporting a landmark initiative in bilateral energy 

cooperation between India and Pakistan.

Whereas the national security of the United States depends 

on world peace; 

Whereas the United States has always strived for peaceful 

and cordial relations between India and Pakistan; 

Whereas in 1995, before the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 

1996 (ILSA) was enacted into law, Pakistan and Iran 

signed a preliminary agreement for construction of a natural gas pipeline from Iran, which was later proposed to 

be extended to India, a historic initiative that would serve 

as an instrument of harmonizing the relations between 

India and Pakistan; 
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•HRES 353 IH 

Whereas in May 2005, the United States dropped its opposition to Iran’s application to join the World Trade Organization; 

Whereas the potential for economic and developmental gain 

from natural gas will gradually encourage India and 

Pakistan to reassess their roles and policies in regional 

conflicts as well as in national security issues; 

Whereas India and Pakistan are among the world’s fastestgrowing economies; New Delhi is projecting growth of 7 

percent for the year ending March 2006, while Islamabad 

expects Pakistan’s economy to expand 8.4 percent for the 

year ending June 2005; 

Whereas this growth is causing South Asia’s energy demands 

to soar; 

Whereas if this trend continues, India alone, by the year 

2030, is expected to be dependent on imported oil for 

more than 90 percent of its oil supplies, according to the 

International Energy Agency in Paris; 

Whereas several alternative natural gas pipelines are under 

consideration by India and Pakistan, including a natural 

gas pipeline from Turkmenistan; and 

Whereas the Government of the United States has a strong 

interest in encouraging peace between India and Pakistan 

and it is taking all appropriate actions to ensure that the 

most economically and politically feasible natural gas 

pipeline for India and Pakistan is constructed: Now, 

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—
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•HRES 353 IH 

1 (1) it is in the best interests of the United 

2 States, as a facilitator of peaceful relations between 

3 India and Pakistan, to support the agreement be4 tween India and Pakistan to construct a natural gas 

5 pipeline, a historic initiative; 

6 (2) an economically, politically, and technically 

7 sound natural gas pipeline through Pakistan to 

8 India is a vehicle for furthering the national security 

9 of the United States; 

10 (3) this initiative would ensure energy security 

11 for Pakistan and India, while strengthening the 

12 peace process and fostering greater economic co13 operation between the two historically hostile coun14 tries; and 

15 (4) linkages and interdependencies between 

16 India and Pakistan such as this initiative should be 

17 encouraged as they have the potential to contribute 

18 to world peace.

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