Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) delivered the following opening statement during today’s hearing on security challenges involving Pakistan and policy implications for the Department of Defense:

    “We meet today to address security challenges involving Pakistan and policy implications for the Department of Defense.  This is an important hearing and could not be more timely.  For too long now, Iraq has been preoccupying us away from evolving security concerns and potential conflict situations in other parts of the world that are vital to U.S. national security interests.  We must have a broader strategic focus. 

    “A stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan, actively working to counter terrorism and Islamist militancy, could be an extremely valuable partner in stabilizing the Middle East and South Asia – and Pakistan has already undertaken a number of positive steps.  Yet the country still faces serious security challenges that demand our active attention and engagement – and a reassessment of our current policies.  I am concerned that our policy towards Pakistan has not been as comprehensive as it should be, and that we may be unprepared to handle the repercussions if events in Pakistan continue to move as rapidly as they have in recent years.

    “Recent testimony before this committee on global threats and a subsequent unclassified National Intelligence Estimate confirmed that Al Qaeda has become progressively active in western Pakistan, where they are determined to be enjoying “safe haven”.  Osama Bin Laden and his lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri are still believed to be in this region as well. 
 
    “Moreover, the U.S. Commander for counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, Major General David Rodriguez, recently blamed a growing Al Qaeda presence in Pakistan for an estimated 50-60% increase in foreign fighters infiltrating into Afghanistan.  And a September 2007 United Nations report found that nearly all suicide attackers in Afghanistan undergo some form of training in preparation in Pakistan.

    “At the same time, internal instability in Pakistan has been on the rise in 2007, fueled by lethal attacks within the country from Islamist militants, and a political crisis surrounding President Musharraf’s run for re-election. 

   “And we should not forget that Pakistan is believed to have enough fissile material for 55-90 nuclear weapons and missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over significant distances.  It also has a history of bitter rivalry with its neighbor India; China continues to be a major arms supplier and perhaps the country’s strongest strategic ally; and Iran continues to be a cooperative partner as well.
  
    “The U.S. has provided Pakistan with about $10 billion dollars in assistance since 9/11.  Yet many experts argue such assistance has not been well-targeted, and that U.S. policies toward Pakistan have been too narrow.  A recent poll shows that only 19% of Pakistanis now have a favorable view of the U.S. and most still see the fight against terrorism as an American one.  And it is clear that U.S. policies have neither neutralized anti-Western militants and reduced religious extremism in Pakistan, nor sufficiently contributed to the stabilization of Afghanistan.

    “I am pleased to have some of the country’s top experts with us today- Ambassador Teresita Schaffer with the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Dr. Marvin Weinbaum with the Middle East Institute; Husain Haqqani with Boston University; and Lisa Curtis with the Heritage Institute.  Welcome to you all – and thank you for your time.  I hope you will illuminate the various security challenges involving Pakistan and provide us with your thoughts and recommendations for addressing these challenges.

    “Now I turn to my good friend and colleague from California, Duncan Hunter, for any statement he may wish to make.”

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