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’’;
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 exacer-
bated the humanitarian problems faced by families di-
vided 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 Sec-
retary went to Islamabad for bilateral talks with his Pak-
istani counterpart in January 1994;
Whereas India’s Foreign Secretary offered six separate pro-
posals to Pakistan during that meeting, including rec-
ommendations for confidence building measures and
other measures designed to improve the climate of rela-
tions between India and Pakistan;
Whereas since the last round of talks in January 1994, Paki-
stan has turned down each of the Indian proposals to re-
sume a high-level dialogue, without preconditions, includ-
ing an offer made by the Prime Minister of India in Oc-
tober 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 be-
tween India and Pakistan has exacerbated differences be-
tween the two countries;
Whereas the rejection of proposals to renew such a direct, bi-
lateral dialogue, without preconditions, is in contraven-
tion of the letter and spirit of the 1972 Shimla Agree-
ment; and
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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the President of the United States and the
Secretary of State should reiterate to her Excellency,
the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the urgent need to
resume a bilateral dialogue between the Government
of Pakistan and the Government of India;
(2) the Congress recognizes and appreciates the
importance of such direct, bilateral talks between the
two countries; and
(3) the Congress urges the Government of
Pakistan and the Government of India to set an
early date for the resumption of such direct bilateral
talks.
SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives
shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the
President, to the Ambassador of Pakistan, and to the Am-
bassador of India.
Æ