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US Senate waives sanctions against Pakistan |
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Keeping in line with the existing political realities and in the context of America’s war against terrorism, the US Senate has voted to waive temporarily all the remaining sanctions against Pakistan for two years. The lawmakers have said that the Foreign Relations Committee has to be notified each time waivers are being exercised. The Bill now goes to the House of Representatives. The Senate’s action means that the pro-democracy sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the 1999 military coup are being waived for fiscal 2001 as also for the next fiscal year. The Senators have said that President Bush must make the determination that his waiver will not only facilitate the transition to democratic rule but also be considered important in the fight against terrorism. Sanctions imposed on Pakistan for violations of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) have also been lifted. “Pakistan has chosen to stand with the US. We need to assist this important frontline State,” the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden, said.
The Senate’s action on sanctions with respect to Pakistan was made in close consultation with the State Department. And the Senators have made it known that instead of broad and sweeping waivers, legislation ought to be in the context of the current developments and compulsions. In the present context, the Senate’s action is significant even if the lawmakers are insisting that this is a “temporary” measure and that the chamber will always be concerned about progress on the democracy front. More than the military significance of the Bill, the White House has been given wide latitude on the economic and financial fronts as well.
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives three lawmakers have introduced the “US-India Security Cooperation Act of 2001” seeking to do away with all the remaining sanctions against New Delhi. The Bill has been referred to the House International Relations Committee. Arguing that India could be a vital strategic partner of the US on a range of political and security issues, the lawmakers urged the Bush Administration to “immediately expand cooperation at all levels” including non-proliferation and counter-terrorism.
India has conveyed its opposition to any US move to supply arms to Pakistan after the withdrawal of the Pressler and Glenn amendments as well as clubbing it with Pakistan in the various legislations being considered by the US Congress. In his meeting with the US Ambassador to India, Mr. Blackwill on Oct. 4, the Human Resources Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi reiterated India’s opposition to any supply of arms to Pakistan.
It noted that even before the USA makes a formal announcement to resume military supplies, it has agreed to supply Pakistan bomb-blasting doors for its nuclear plants. The supply is being justified on the plea of saving them from sabotage in the context of the Pakistan Government agreeing to cooperate with the US in the campaign against global terrorism.
As far as India is concerned, close on the heels of the announcement to lift sanctions, Washington has removed several Indian companies from its “entity list”. The list includes organisations to which the transfer of dual-use technology was banned following the sanctions imposed after the nuclear tests in 1998. The details of the revised entity list and the Licence review policy are expected to be made public later this week. But, according to documents the Asian Age claims to be in possession of, the only Indian companies that remain on the entity list are : Bharat Dynamics Limited, four institutions at the Defence Research and Development Organisation - Armament Research and Development Establishment, Defence research and Development Lab, Hyderabad, Missile Research and Development Complex and the Solid State Physics Laboratory - three institutions, including the Bhabha Atomic research Centre at the Department of Atomic Energy and institutions at the Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore.
Some of the prominent Indian companies that have been removed from the list are: Aerospace Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore; Atomic Energy Commission, Mumbai; Bhabha Atomic research Centre, Trombay; Bharat electronics Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Aerospace Division and Engine Division, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, Aerospace Technology Cell, Larsen & Turbo Ltd, Sriharikota Space Centre and the Tarapur atomic Power Project.
Earlier on March 17 last year, the Federal Register had published a rule that removed 51 Indian entities and modified one entity’s listing.
In sharp comparison to the marked reduction in the number of Indian companies left on the entity list, the status of at least 20 Pakistan companies remains unchanged.
A confidential note of the Department of Economic Affairs sent to the Prime Ministers Office has said that all US-aided NGOs and development projects in India are likely to get unprecedented aid as a result of both waiver of sanctions and as an expression of appreciation of New Delhi’s strong support in the current American initiative against terrorism. The note of the Finance Ministry reveals that during discussions with US authorities, it was indicated that US AID expects a substantial increase in volume of ODA to India. The note also refers to the 39 blacklisted Indian corporate giants by the US which will now have free access to all technological cooperation with the US after the sanctions are lifted.
The note says that even when sanctions were imposed, Washington excluded some high-priority development projects from its list. Similarly, after former President Clinton’s visit to India, Washington lifted the restrictions on supply of spares and repairs of Sea King helicopters. Washington has also assured to provide “mission critical high technology components” especially in missile development project to India. Experts are of the view the much delayed Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] and Advanced Jet Trainer [AJT] project would now get a boost.
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