By: Ram Narayanan
ramn@adelphia.net
October 21, 2003

You will recall, at the urging of the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), the US House of Representatives had passed an amendment on July 16, 2003 which required the Administration to disclose the extent to which Pakistan is fulfilling its promise to clamp down on cross-border terrorism, shutting down terrorist camps in Pakistan-held Kashmir, and halting the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology to rogue states and terrorists. The House passed the request, as part of HR 1950, Millennium Challenge Account, Peace Corps Expansion, and Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2003 (Section 709), by an overwhelmingly wide margin (382-42). It reflects the broad support that this issue garners across party lines.

It will interest you to know that a joint hearing to review U.S. counter terrorism policy in Asia before the House Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and the Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Human Rights will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room # 2172, at the US Capitol in Washington DC. (visit www.house.gov for directions to Rayburn House Office Building).

USINPAC is bringing B Raman, the noted Counter Terrorism expert of India as an expert witness to tender evidence before the Committees.

You are invited to observe the Committees as they assess cross-border terrorism challenges facing India and their implications for the counter terrorism policies of the United States.

We envision two panels of witnesses: the first being an Administration panel, and the second being a private experts' panel.

The agenda is:

Panel 1

Cofer Black, US Coordinator for Counter terrorism.

Jim Kelly, Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs (tentative).

Panel 2

Dr. Zachary Abuza from Simmons College, Dr. Timothy Hoyt from Naval War College and B. Raman, formerly India’s Counter Terrorism Chief.

I am told there are ONLY some 100 seats - first come, first served. Therefore if you wish to attend, try to be in line well in time at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room # 2172, at the US Capitol in Washington DC.

REMEMBER, the proceedings start at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, October 29th.

Ram Narayanan