III

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 251

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding human rights violations in

Kashmir and calling for a negotiated settlement to the Kashmir conflict,

including India, Pakistan, and the people of Kashmir.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

AUGUST 22 (legislative day, AUGUST 18), 1994

Mr. WALLOP submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding human rights

violations in Kashmir and calling for a negotiated settlement to the Kashmir conflict, including India, Pakistan,

and the people of Kashmir.

Whereas United States policy calls for a solution to the conflict through negotiations between India and Pakistan

taking into consideration the wishes of the people of

Kashmir and further states that it is up to the people of

Kashmir to determine who best represents their interest;

Whereas India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the

Kashmir conflict, and tensions in the region continue to

escalate;

Whereas India and Pakistan possess the capability to assemble and deliver nuclear weapons;
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SRES 251 IS

Whereas reports of significant human rights abuses continue

in Kashmir particularly as a result of the excessive and

unrestrained force used by the Indian Security Forces

against the civilian population;

Whereas the Muslim population of Kashmir has organized

the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, an umbrella organization of thirty-four political parties, to engage in negotiations with the Indian and Pakistani authorities without precondition;

Whereas the Hurriyat believes that all representatives of the

Kashmiri people should be represented in any dialogue

including: The Kashmiri Pandits, the Dogra, the leadership of Azad Kashmir, the Ladakhis and all other legitimate representatives of the people;

Whereas the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in January 1994 brought together representatives from the

central participants to the conflict—India, Pakistan, and

Kashmir—to engage in a dialogue for peace; and

Whereas the USIP concluded that, ‘‘It is essential that people of Jammu and Kashmir be central participants in

this political process, along with the governments and

citizens of India and Pakistan.’’ The report further states

that the formation of the Hurriyat could potentially facilitate possible negotiations: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

2 (1) the United States condemns the use of coer3 cive force being employed by Indian military and

4 paramilitary forces against civilians in Kashmir and

5 similarly denounces any acts of violence by the

6 Kashmiri militants;
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SRES 251 IS

1 (2) the United States urges the Government of

2 India to take specific steps to respond to human

3 rights concerns including: Releasing political pris4 oners; opening Kashmir to international human

5 rights groups and electronic media; permitting the

6 International Red Cross to visit prisons and deten7 tion centers; prosecuting security personnel involved

8 in wanton violence against the civilian population;

9 (3) the United States reiterates the need for all

10 parties to the dispute—the Governments of India

11 and Pakistan as well as the legitimate representa12 tives of Kashmir—to enter into negotiations and re13 solve the conflict peacefully; and

14 (4) the United States Senate urges the Admin15 istration to work with the United Nations and the

16 international community to facilitate a peaceful ne17 gotiation for the final settlement of the Kashmir cri18 sis.

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