PAKPAC and the Issues
1) Strengthening of United States and Pakistan Relationship
2) Civil liberties and equal opportunities for Pakistani Americans
3) Improving and protecting the regional balance of power in South
Asia
4) PAKPAC on US relationship with India and Pakistan.
5) PAKPAC on Immigration.
6) Peaceful resolution of Kashmir crisis according to the will of
the people of Kashmir
7) Support the building of education and health infrastructure in
Pakistan
1) United States and Pakistan Relationship
a) Increase bilateral Pakistan United States trade and develop
mechanisms to increase jobs in Pakistan and increase export to the
United States. (learn more about the Pakistan
economy)
b) Increase defense cooperation between Pakistan and United States
especially to try and decrease the imbalance of conventional weapons
in South Asia.
c) Increase opportunity to help enable IT outsourcing to Pakistan
thus creating mechanism to reduce costs for US corporations
d) Allowing increase in imports from Pakistan especially with respect
to, but not limited to cotton, rice, carpets, surgical equipment,
sports goods.
e) Support immigration of qualified skilled health care workers
especially nurses to come to United States.
f) Create in Congress “Friends of Pakistan” body: It
is vital that the importance of a Pakistan and United States partnership
in the 21st century be identified, and the seed for the establishment
of a strong and prosperous Caucus on Pakistan and Pakistani-Americans
in the US be planted.
g) PAKPAC supports the war on terror and appreciates the United
States training and other support to enable the authorities in Pakistan
to identify, arrest, and punish the perpetrators of terror in Pakistan.
Pakistan like theUnited States has been a victim of terrorism and
Pakistan continues to require support in this ongoing war.
2) Civil Liberties and Equal Opportunities for Pakistani Americans
a) . After the tragic event of September 11, 2001, there has been
a significant increase in rules, regulations, and laws, which have
resulted in the significant deterioration in the civil rights of
all Americans, specifically the American-Muslim Community. There
has been significant backlash against the community resulting in
manifold increased in hate crimes. PAKAPC wants to support legislation
to result in stiff penalties and punishment to people involved in
any type of hate crimes, especially those against the American-Muslim
Community.
b) While we as Americans are interested in protecting our homeland,
we do oppose laws and the selective implementation of the laws against
certain ethnic communities especially American Muslims and the Pakistani-American
Community. We oppose the Patriot Act which is against the civil
rights of all Americans.
c) We oppose the national security exit entry registration system
(NSEERS) which requires registration of people of Pakistani origin.
d) We support the creation of equal opportunity for Pakistani-Americans
in the judicial branches, and the executive branches of the Government.
The Pakistani-American Community consists of many highly qualified
individuals, who could serve in the department such as state treasury,
health, and human services, and justice departments. We support
the appointment of Pakistani-Americans to the executive and judicial
branches of the government.
3) Improving and protecting regional balance
of power in South Asia
a) We are against the sale of Arrow-missile system by Israel to
India. Strategic defense balance is an absolute necessity for the
safety and security of South Asia.
b) Any action or sale of strategic defense equipment, which would
lead to further increase the imbalance in South Asia, places the
entire region under the heavy threat of a nuclear exchange.
c) While absolute actions are necessary to try and reduce tensions
and resolve the unsolved issues between in South Asia. The sales
of strategic conventional arms to India would not only send a wrong
message to our ally Pakistan, but would also worsen the defense
imbalance, thus reducing security in the region.
4) PAKPAC on Pakistan, and India relationship
and the role of United States.
a) PAKPAC feels that the future of the people of Pakistan and India
depends in the stability of the region. Friendship and mutual understanding
and peace are the main key to the future of the people and children
of South Asia. This cannot be possible without both Pakistan and
India making peace with each other as their first and foremost priority.
b) PAKPAC feels that the relationship of the United States with
India and Pakistan should not be looked at as an either/or relationship.
The United States has different and non conflicting reasons of friendship
with both Countries, and should pursue both.
c) PAKPAC realizes that the Indian authorities have alleged about
the infiltration of people across the border into Indian controlled
Kashmir: PAKPAC supports the presence of an international monitor
at the line of control in Kashmir to independently identify and
evaluate the claims made by the Indian Government about illegal
border crossing. It is important that the United Nation based independent
groups monitor the borders and truly identify the claims made by
both Pakistan and India.
d) PAKPAC is against any element in Pakistan and or India which
targets or uses force and terrorist tactics to attack the interest
of other's sites. We believe that the use of violence is not justified
to achieve any goals no matter what the cause is.
5) PAKPAC on Immigration:
United States though blessed with highly qualified workers, does
have specific areas where there is in a short supply. These include:
a) Highly qualified nurses, who are proficient in the English language.
Pakistan has highly trained nurses, who are proficient in the English
language would serve to fill the current deficit in the nursing
field in United State’s hospitals. We support the immigration
of qualified nurses to the United State on specific Pakistan based
H1B visas.
b) Pakistan also has highly trained professionals including engineers
and physicians whose entry into the United States would be beneficial,
however, immigration laws need to change.
We oppose the national security exit entry registration system
(NSEERS) which requires registration of people of Pakistani origin
6)Peaceful Resolution of Kashmir Crisis
According to the will of the people of Kashmir:
a) There have been multiple resolutions in the United Nations supporting
the resolution of the Kashmir crisis according to the will of the
people of Kashmir. Based on the principles of human rights, internationally
accepted laws, and morality require that we allow the people of
Kashmir to make a determination of their future. PAKPAC supports
the rights of the people of Kashmir and urges the United States
government to support the right of the people of Kashmir to make
their own choice
b) PAKPAC realizes that the Indian authorities have alleged about
the infiltration of people across the border into Indian controlled
Kashmir: PAKPAC supports the presence of international monitor at
the line of control in Kashmir to independently identify and evaluate
the claims made by the Indian Government about the illegal border
crossing. It is important that United Nation based independent groups
monitor the borders and truly identify the claims made by both Pakistan
and India
7) Support the building of education and
health infrastructure in Pakistan
Support the building of education and health infrastructure in Pakistan
by increasing budgets and support through USAID programs.
It is important to recognize that the war on terror has lead to
a significant negative impact on the economy and the infrastructure
of Pakistan. This has resulted in huge pressure on the already weak
economy of Pakistan. As a result of the above, the health infrastructure
and the education infrastructure of Pakistan has suffered. The United
States must use programs like USAID and other programs to help build
the educational, health and economic infrastructure of Pakistan.
Pakistan has significant debt at this time, it is important to use
different mechanisms including further debt rescheduling and servicing
to ensure that more resources could be placed on building up of
the infrastructure of the country.
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