III

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 138

Relating to the conflict in Kashmir.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 21 (legislative day, JUNE 19), 1995

Mr. HELMS (for himself, Mr. REID, and Mr. LEAHY) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Relating to the conflict in Kashmir.

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

Pakistan taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri

people, and further states that it is up to the Kashmiri

people to choose legitimate representatives to negotiate

on their behalf;

Whereas India and Pakistan have fought two wars over

Kashmir and tensions in the region remain high;

Whereas both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons programs and possess sophisticated means to deliver such

weapons;

Whereas reports indicate widespread human rights abuses in

Kashmir, resulting from the excessive use of force by In-
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SRES 138 IS

dian military and paramilitary forces and acts of violence

by Kashmiri militants;

Whereas the Indian parliament did not renew the Terrorists

and Disruptive Activities Act, thereby improving prospects for the rule of law in Kashmir;

Whereas the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference was

organized to engage in negotiations with Indian and Pakistani authorities without precondition;

Whereas in January 1994 the United States Institute of

Peace (USIP) brought together representatives from

India, Pakistan, and Kashmir to engage in a dialogue for

peace;

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.’’; and

Whereas the recent destruction of the mosque and the razing

of the town of Charar-i-Sharief in Kashmir have reinforced the urgent need for such a dialogue: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) condemns the use of excessive force by In3 dian military and paramilitary forces in Kashmir

4 and similarly condemns acts of violence by Kashmiri

5 militants;

6 (2) welcomes the release from detention of

7 Kashmiri political leaders and urges that the Gov8 ernment of India take further steps to respond to

9 human rights concerns, including—
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SRES 138 IS

1 (A) prosecuting security personnel involved

2 in abuses of human rights;

3 (B) permitting international human rights

4 groups such as Amnesty International access to

5 Kashmir; and

6 (C) permitting international humanitarian

7 groups access to detention and interrogation

8 centers in Kashmir;

9 (3) welcomes the expiration of the Terrorist and

10 Disruptive Activities Act and urges the Government

11 of India to take further steps to safeguard the Kash12 miri people’s right to due process;

13 (4) welcomes steps taken by the Government of

14 Pakistan to reduce its support for Kashmiri mili15 tants, and urges the Government of Pakistan to take

16 further steps, including using its influence with pri17 vate Pakistani sources, to stop the acts of intimida18 tion and violence by Kashmiri militants;

19 (5) calls on the Government of India and Paki20 stan to enter into negotiations with legitimate rep21 resentatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to

22 resolve the conflict peacefully; and
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1 (6) urges the Administration to work to facili2 tate negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the

3 conflict in Kashmir.

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