IV

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 59

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of the United

States should encourage resumption of direct, bilateral talks between

India and Pakistan at the earliest possible time.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 6, 1995

Mr. LANTOS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government

of the United States should encourage resumption of

direct, bilateral talks between India and Pakistan at

the earliest possible time.

Whereas the Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan

in 1972 stipulated that ‘‘the two countries (India and

Pakistan) are resolved to settle their differences by

peaceful means through bilateral negotiations’’;

Whereas the Joint Statement signed by President Clinton

and Prime Minister Rao in May 1994, also stressed the

‘‘need for bilateral relations between India and Pakistan

to resolve outstanding issues, including Jammu and

Kashmir, as envisaged in the Shimla Agreement’’;
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HCON 59 IH

Whereas tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated

and relations between those two nations have begun to

deteriorate over the last year;

Whereas Pakistan’s decision to ask the Government of India

to close India’s consulate in Karachi has greatly exacerbated the humanitarian problems faced by families divided by the partition of 1947, and has created another

impediment to the resumption of dialogue between India

and Pakistan;

Whereas the last round of substantive consultations between

India and Pakistan was held when India’s Foreign Secretary went to Islamabad for bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart in January 1994;

Whereas India’s Foreign Secretary offered six separate proposals to Pakistan during that meeting, including recommendations for confidence building measures and

other measures designed to improve the climate of relations between India and Pakistan;

Whereas since the last round of talks in January 1994, Pakistan has turned down each of the Indian proposals to resume a high-level dialogue, without preconditions, including an offer made by the Prime Minister of India in October 1994, as well as both oral and written invitations

by the Indian Foreign Secretary on several occasions;

Whereas the absence of such a direct, bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan has exacerbated differences between the two countries;

Whereas the rejection of proposals to renew such a direct, bilateral dialogue, without preconditions, is in contravention of the letter and spirit of the 1972 Shimla Agreement; and
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HCON 59 IH

Whereas Her Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan,

Benazir Bhutto, will make an official visit to the United

States in April 1995: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the President of the United States and the

4 Secretary of State should reiterate to her Excellency,

5 the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the urgent need to

6 resume a bilateral dialogue between the Government

7 of Pakistan and the Government of India;

8 (2) the Congress recognizes and appreciates the

9 importance of such direct, bilateral talks between the

10 two countries; and

11 (3) the Congress urges the Government of

12 Pakistan and the Government of India to set an

13 early date for the resumption of such direct bilateral

14 talks.

15 SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives

16 shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the

17 President, to the Ambassador of Pakistan, and to the Am18 bassador of India.

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