BACKGROUND:

The US Secretary of State Colin Powell on March 18, 2004 announced America’s decision to designate Pakistan a "major non-NATO ally". The State Department is in the process of notifying Congress of this decision. If this decision becomes final, Pakistan will:
· Obtain priority delivery of defense material and the purchase, for instance, of depleted uranium anti-tank rounds
· Stockpile US military hardware, participate in defense research and development programs
· Benefit from a US Government loan guarantee program, which backs up loans issued by private banks to finance arms exports

The Hindu Lobby had intiated a coordinated response where they are using many different methods to stop Pakistan’s designation. Ther current steps include:

A) A Bill in the Congress: H.R. 4021 By Gary Ackerman ( D-District 5 NY) to stop this process was intiated March 24th, 2004.(For text of Bill please see below)

B) Multiple petitions/ emails/ phone calls are currently going out to the members of the congress to support this bill and to consider other ways to restrict any postive realtionship development between US and Pakistan.

SUGGESTED RESPONSE:

Please contact your member of congress using the link below:
http://www.pakpac.net/action3.asp

Please send a letter or make a phoen call

Following are suggested talking points:

- I am pleased with the recent March 18th announcement of US Secretary of State Colin Powell to deisgnate Pakistan the status of a “Non –NATO US Ally”

- Pakistan since acquiring independence has been a very important US ally not only in the recent past but through out the major historical events of this century.

- If one has to name a Country that has suffered the most in terms of financial and economic losses, loss of its forces and people for its unstinted support of the “war on terror”, it is Pakistan.

- There have been numerous Pakistani soldiers who have died and contrinue to die while they protect the Pakistani borders wioth Afghanistan againt the Taliban and AL Qaida insurgence. The influx of the Afghan refugees immediately after the war literally halted the growth of Pakistan economy.

- We must realize that Pakistan has been not only more that a Non-Nato Ally for the United States, but has actually done more than most NATO allies for us.

- Finally by giving a designation to Pakistan, the US administration has taken a postive step recognising Pakistan’s support and US friendship with the people of Pakistan.

- HR 4021 proposed by Congressman Gary Ackerman is an effort by a special interst group to halt any effort of postive relationship development between United States and Pakistan.

- This proposed legislature if passed would result in a strong message to the people of Pakistan that even though they, the people of Pakistan are with us in the war on terror, but we are not with them.

- As far as Pakistan’s steps towards democracy are concerned, I would like to encouarge you to look and study the situation there and see that there is more democracy in Pakistan with respcet to people/press/and the legislators saying what they want to then there has ever been in the hsiotory of the Country. The freeedom of speech, and building up of infrastructure and institutions are on the rise. We must help in the process to ensure onging smooth sailing of the efforts.

- The nuclear proliferation issue has been of concern to all. We must however realize that the process is being better moniteiored according the US reports and the US adminstration is satisfied with the repsonse.

- HR 4021 sugguest and gives a message (in essence) of disengagement from Pakistan, and is actually a failed policy. We must not repeat failed policies.

- I look forward to your NOT suporting the H.R. 4021 as this does not support the US interests in the big picture especially with respect to Pakistan.

THE BILL:

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that only countries that have a democratic form of government and that support United States nonproliferation objectives may be... (Introduced in House)

HR 4021 IH

108th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4021

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that only countries that have a democratic form of government and that support United States nonproliferation objectives may be designated as major non-NATO allies for purposes of that Act and the Arms Export Control Act.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 24, 2004
Mr. ACKERMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

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A BILL

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that only countries that have a democratic form of government and that support United States nonproliferation objectives may be designated as major non-NATO allies for purposes of that Act and the Arms Export Control Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF MAJOR NON-NATO ALLIES.
(a) Designation- Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321k) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new subsection:

`(a) Designation-

`(1) Requirements- The President may designate a country as a major non-NATO ally for purposes of this Act and the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) only if--

`(A) the country has a democratic form of government;

`(B) the country participates in the international agreements or arrangements described in paragraph (2), or pursuant to an international understanding to which the United States is a party, controls exports of goods and technology in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth in each or those agreements and understandings; and

`(C) at least 30 days before designating the country pursuant to this paragraph, the President notifies Congress in writing that the country meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).

`(2) International agreements or arrangements- The international agreements or arrangements referred to in paragraph (1)(B) are the Waasenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, the Zangger Committee, and any other international agreement or arrangement to which the United States is a party that restricts the export of chemical, biological, nuclear, and other weapons and their delivery systems, and effectively restricts the export of dual use components of such weapons and their delivery systems.'.

(b) Termination- Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(c) Termination- The President shall notify Congress in writing at least 30 days before terminating the designation of a country pursuant to subsection (a).'.