Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee - Democracy, Authoritarianism and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan

Interview

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REP. JOE WILSON (R-SC): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And thank you, Ambassador, for being here. And I have had the opportunity to visit President Musharraf twice in Islamabad. I -- actually it's my view that the challenges that he has been facing are just so extraordinary: the madrassas, the lack of ability to provide security in Waziristan and the frontier. And I know that you've been proposing in your statements -- what can we do to help him to adjust to indeed providing for a peaceful and democratic solution to the dilemma that he's in now?

MR. NEGROPONTE: Well, I certainly -- we're sending him a strong message about we think the democracy agenda is important.

I think we're also saying that we think it's in his own and in the self-interest of his country and in the self-interest of the security and stability of Pakistan in the long term.

I think the other thing we can do is I think we should continue these important programs that are helpful both in the war on terror and in helping encourage development and moderation in the country of Pakistan. This is a country that needs our assistance in many different ways to help modernize its society.

So I think we want to send both the president and the people and government of Pakistan the message that the United States wants to be a reliable partner, we don't want to have wild swings up and down, ups and downs in the relationship, and that we want to be consistent, reliable partner who is committed to their security, to their economic development and to democratic evolution of their country.

REP. WILSON: Another interest I have is as the co-chair of the Caucus of India and Indian Americans. What do you see the relationship between Pakistan and India under the current circumstance?

MR. NEGROPONTE: It's gotten better since 2002. There's been -- they've developed this comprehensive dialogue between them on various aspects of the relationship. They've been discussing some of their border disputes and there's been some good discussion there. There's been efforts to restrain terrorist -- movement of terrorists across the borders. So I think that all in all, the India-Pakistan relationship is about as good as it's been in recent years. And if the current political situation in Pakistan can stabilize, I see the perspective of even greater progress in the India-Pakistan relationship.

REP. WILSON: And a concern that I have is that a destabilized Pakistan could indeed interrupt the progress that you've mentioned, including travel between the countries and the increase in trade between the two countries. Is there anything that India could do to help in terms of working toward stability?

MR. NEGROPONTE: Well, I think perhaps most importantly, not to try in any way to take advantage of the situation. And I don't see any indications that they are, so I think that's positive. If you look back at the historical record, there were times when they did try to take advantage of political instability in Pakistan. So I think this is a net plus. And I think they just -- to the extent that they can try and keep the relationship on an even keel, I think that that would be a positive contribution.

And again, I very much appreciate you pointing out that there has been success in reduction of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan into India. That is just crucial toward the development between these two very important strategic allies of the United States.

MR. NEGROPONTE: That is my understanding of what has happened.

REP. WILSON: I yield the balance of my time.

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