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Withhold loans to Pakistan, demands US Congressman

Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman last night circulated a draft resolution among fellow law-makers which calls upon various financial institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, to withhold grant of all loans to Pakistan until it withdraws its forces from the Indian side of the Line of Control.

Ackerman, who is chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, wants to muster support for the document before it was placed before the House of Representatives for its formal approval.

It accuses the Pakistan government of ''encouraging and assisting'' the Islamic fundamentalists who had infiltrated into the Indian territory, leading to the present war-like situation.

It says that there is no dispute over the demarcation of the LoC in the area where the insurgents have crossed from Pakistan. ''The LoC must not be altered by force and that the unity and territorial integrity of India is non-negotiable,'' it says.

The draft demands withdrawal of all Pakistani troops from Indian territory and commends the Indian security forces for showing ''remarkable restraint'' in dealing with the armed provocation.

It insists that a meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan could begin only after Pakistan completely pulls back all its forces from inside the Indian side of the LoC.

It asks all parties to respect the spirit of the Lahore Declaration.

The draft urges the two countries to exercise restraint, pending a diplomatic solution of the Kargil crisis. India and Pakistan should resolve to settle all their differences within the framework of the Simla agreement, which rules out third party intervention in their bilateral disputes, it says.

UNI

The Kargil Crisis

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