Reject HR 4021 that aims at preventing Pakistan from being designated a major non-Nato U.S. ally

On March 18, 2004, Secretary of State, Colin Powell, announced in Islamabad that the State Department will ask the Congress to designate Pakistan as a major non-Nato ally (MNNA). While announcing this decision, he stressed that the US has been involved in a long-term partnership with Pakistan for many years and the current environment provides an opportunity to strengthen that relationship.

Pakistan has been a crucial and reliable US ally since its independence more than five decades ago. In 1954, the U.S. and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement to challenge concerns about the Soviet expansion. A year later, in 1955, Pakistan joined the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan took on the role of front line ally in one of the final encounters of the Cold War. After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Pakistan was quickly numbered among the very most important partners in the War on Terror.

The government of Pakistan, which has handed over dozens of suspected terrorists to the United States after 9/11, is now engaged in a major operation against the Taliban and Al Qaeda elements along Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistani army has suffered casualties while flushing out these terrorists. Commending Pakistan's determination and courage in fighting terrorism and countering extremism, Secretary Powell declared: "Both our countries recognize our alliance is crucial to winning the worldwide war on terror.

We believe that HR 4021 (legislation) proposed by Congressman Gary Ackerman is an effort by a special interest group to halt any effort of postive relationship development between United States and Pakistan.

We appeal you not to support this legislation, which if passed, would send a message to the people of Pakistan that even though they, the people of Pakistan are with us in the war on terror, but we are not with them.