Frank Pallone: “recently we have seen some reason for hope about the resumption of a dialogue between Pakistan and India on resolving…”

“recently we have seen some reason for hope about the resumption of a dialogue between Pakistan and India on resolving the Kashmir conflict. But we have also received a reminder of how difficult the path toward dying dialogue can be. On the hopeful side, the United States has asked Pakistan to take concrete steps for the resumption of a productive dialogue with India and a return to what is known as the ``Spirit of Lahore'' so that there will be no more Kargils. I should explain, Madam Speaker, that Lahore is a city in Pakistan near the border with India. It was the scene not much more than a year ago of a very amicable meeting between India's Prime Minister Vajpayee and the former Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif. Given the longstanding animosity between the two South Asian neighbors, the image of the two prime ministers embracing and pledging to work in a spirit of partnership and respect was heart-warming, promising a new era in bilateral relations. But a short time later there was Kargil. Kargil is the name of a town in Kashmir under India's jurisdiction near the line of control that separates the areas controlled by India and Pakistan. In May of 1999, Pakistani-backed forces crossed that line and attacked India's defensive positions near Kargil. This bold gambit by Pakistan was not successful militarily.…”