Proliferation of India-related Bills in U.S. Congress

WASHINGTON, JAN. 24. The greater attention being paid in the United States to Indo-American relations is reflected in the proliferation of India-related Bills with 42 of them now listed on the Congress website and all referred to the House International Relations Committee.One of the Bills, introduced during the Kargil crisis by the House Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Gilman, and several representatives, opposes Pakistan's support for armed incursion into Jammu and Kashmir and says it should be the U.S. policy to encourage New Delhi and Islamabad to adhere to the principles of the Lahore declaration.

Another Bill introduced by Mr. Blagojevich, says India and Pakistan should refrain from intervention and interference in each other's internal affairs and reaffirm their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and their determination to combat this menace.

A resolution by Congressman Mr. Robert Andrews, seeks to ``create incentives for the People's Republic of China and India to adopt a policy of restraint with respect to their nuclear activities''.

Called the Incentives for Nuclear Non-proliferation in India and China Act, its goals include promoting full cooperation with the U.S. in the fight against international terrorism and narcotics trafficking and comprehensive cultural and educational exchange between India and China.

It also envisages development and institutionalisation of a framework for talks to end disputes between India and China and actions to increase trade relations between the two.

It calls for encouraging the Export-import Bank of the U.S. to offer finance at low rates of interest and providing political risk insurance through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to American businesses seeking to invest in India.The bill says assistance should be made available through the Trade And Development Agency to U.S. businesses seeking to invest in India and encourages transfer of American technology to India.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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