Frank Pallone: “In the past few weeks tensions have increased in the area that is known as the ``roof of the world,'' and that is…”

“In the past few weeks tensions have increased in the area that is known as the ``roof of the world,'' and that is India's state of Jammu and Kashmir, located in the western Himalayan Mountains. For years they have been victimized by foreign militants, mercenaries affiliated with Islamic extremist groups, and supported by Pakistan, who have imposed a reign of terror on the inhabitants of the state, and this spring the Pakistan-backed infiltrators took over Indian defensive positions located on India's side of the line of control near the town of Kargil. India has responded to this incursion on its territory by exercising its legitimate right of self-defense. Mr. Speaker, recently Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. has complained of what he called a ``bias in favor of the Indian position'' by our State Department. Ambassador Kokhar was apparently upset about a statement made by State Department spokesman James Rubin at his regular press briefing in which Mr. Rubin described the Kashmiri Mujahideen as infiltrators from Pakistan on India's side of the line of control. Mr. Rubin also stated that insertion of any additional fighters from across the line of control will only increase tensions and prolong the fighting. Mr. Speaker, I find it a little ironic that the Pakistani Ambassador complained about a pro-India tilt at the State Department, since for years the State Department has demonstrated what I consider to be a pronounced pro-Pakistan tilt.”