Confirmation Hearing

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, it is a great honor to appear before you today.  I am proud and grateful for the trust President Bush and Secretary Powell place in me by nominating me to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs

Mr. Chairman, now is the moment that nominees traditionally tell you and the other members of their commitment, if confirmed, to cooperate closely with this Committee and with the Congress to further U.S. interests.  But if you will indulge a digression, I think it is safe to say that you know just how closely I hope to work with the Committee -- its members and its staff -- in the coming years.

For the past five and a half years, I have had the privilege of sitting on the other side of the room behind the Chairman of this subcommittee.  I will say what a wonderful opportunity it has been – an unequaled learning experience with wonderful people and a unique opportunity to make a difference.  But the most honest thing I have to confess is that I have been lucky enough to have fun -- a lot of fun.

While here in the Senate I had the extraordinary opportunity to work on a wide variety of issues – The Silk Road Strategy Act which became law; legislation affecting Middle East policy; and of course, much of my time was focused on policy toward and legislation dealing with the vitally important issues of South Asia.  Which brings me to the reason I am here today.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are home to 1.3 billion people, more than one-fifth of the world’s population.  Even a cursory look at the region makes it obvious why we have strategic, political and economic interests throughout South Asia.

The nations of South Asia cover the spectrum of the United States’ most vital interests in the world today:  on the negative side, we face terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and drug trafficking.  The Bush Administration, I believe, sees these challenges but recognizes something even more important:  In each South Asian nation where we face seemingly intractable problems, we have the chance to work with governments that want to confront those problems with us, to receive our assistance, and to work to assuage our concerns.  That is a basis for cooperation and understanding, even in difficult situations, that I believe we enjoy in few regions of the world.

On the positive side, we have long-standing friendships, a chance to promote democracy and truly amazing economic opportunities.  The fact that President Clinton visited South Asia’s three largest nations last year, and that President Bush and his senior officials have already been in contact with regional leaders is more evidence of South Asia’s growing importance to the United States.

There is no doubt that this is a two way street.  Nearly two million people of South Asian origin live in the United States.  Almost every member of the Indian middle class can claim a family member in America.  South Asians in the United States have helped fuel our information technology boom, and have taken their successes back home to found companies with worldwide influence.  South Asians have made contributions beyond their numbers in academia, the sciences, medicine and the arts.  These communities are making themselves felt, and I hope this Administration will continue receiving their support and advice for U.S. policies in South Asia.

As for U.S. relations in the region, allow me to start with India.  The Bush Administration will continue the policy of substantive bilateral engagement.  The past few years have seen the beginning of a transformation in our relationship with the world’s largest democracy.  Now is the time to complete that transformation.  India’s economic potential, following a decade of free market reform, is immense.  We are India’s largest trading partner, but bilateral trade remains far below where it should be.  If I am confirmed, I look forward to devoting time to remedying that situation.

In addition, India is already playing a role beyond South Asia.  That can only be to the good, and we welcome India’s new global status.  But with that new role come new responsibilities -- economic, political and military.  In those areas, the United States and India can, with effort and cooperation, be partners.

In the case of Pakistan, ours is a friendship of long standing, and one that must be sustained and enhanced.  Secretary Powell has invited Foreign Minister Sattar to Washington in June for an in-depth discussion of our relations.  Those discussions, I am sure, will be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and openness.  Pakistan is an important regional power and an important Islamic power.  For those reasons and so many more, the Bush Administration is committed to working through difficult economic, political and social challenges now facing Pakistan.  Where we can cooperate, in areas such as counter-narcotics, we must continue.  Where we do not cooperate optimally, for example on Afghanistan, we must work harder to show Pakistan the shared threat we face from the regime in Kabul.

Our relationship with the two anchors of South Asia, India and Pakistan, has tremendous potential.  Too often that potential has gone unrealized.  I believe stability and success rest on development.  We in the United States have a lot to learn from cooperation with these two good friends, and it will be a mistake on all of our parts to allow ourselves to be trapped in the mistakes of the past.  The time has come, individually and together, to move forward.

Bangladesh is a good news story, especially in the areas of trade and economic development.  This moderate Muslim democracy has overcome enormous odds to pursue very successful grass roots based economic development.  The country’s large natural gas resources promise to be an engine for further growth and development.  All that could be placed at risk, however, as political violence escalates in the run up to elections later this year.  We have spoken frequently with Bangladeshi political leaders in the government and the opposition about the need for compromise, and will continue to do so.

On the negative side, the Taliban in Afghanistan continue to pose a grave threat to the people of Afghanistan, to their neighbors and to the international community.  Mr. Chairman, this is an area of the world that has suffered from our neglect, and the Afghan people deserve better.  The current humanitarian crisis, grave human rights problems, decades of war, and emergence as the world locus of transnational terrorism pose enormous challenges to both the U.S. and the international community.  It is a daunting challenge with no easy solution.

We have a very clear interest in finding a solution to bring peace to Afghanistan.  Clearly, the first task will be to get food to the people, who are facing a real threat of widespread famine.  In this regard, the United States is the largest contributor of international assistance to the Afghan people.  We are cooperating with the international community to counter the other threats that Afghanistan poses to the region.  But beyond that, I hope that we will be able to find a way to help the Afghan people who, after all, did so much for us.

The other nations of South Asia do not deserve short shrift, but my time is running short.  Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives embody the problems and the successes of South Asia.  There is a genuine desire on the part of the people for democracy, but there are ethnic and political problems that have meant that democracy is unsteady.  Sri Lanka, which is such a success story socially and economically, has yet to come to resolve its long-running ethnic war.  Nepal’s fledgling democracy is struggling to cope with a Maoist insurgency.  The manner in which it balances the need for internal security with the requirement for an open civil society will be a good indicator as to its future.

We are engaged with all the countries of the region to aid development, to promote respect for human rights and to work through the challenges to democracy.  Mr. Chairman, if confirmed, I will devote my energy to building strong and productive relations throughout South Asia.  Democracy, open markets and vibrant civil societies can only benefit all of us.  If confirmed, I look forward to working with this Committee and with the Congress to achieve those goals.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here today.  I will be pleased to respond to any questions you or other Members might have.