Washington: Praising Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his initiatives in seeking peace with Pakistan, senior US leader Frank Pallone has urged the Congress to encourage negotiations between the two countries through the funding of a "peace dividend" and other infrastructure projects that cross borders.

Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, co-founder of the India Caucus, praised Vajpayee's effort to reinstate full Indo-Pakistan diplomatic relations and to restore cross-border transportation between the two countries, saying the steps exemplified his willingness and commitment to finding a permanent peace settlement within South Asia.

In a speech on the House floor on May 6, Pallone suggested two congressional initiatives for meeting this objective.

"With bilateral dialogue resuming, Congress should provide funding for projects that cross the two countries' borders," Pallone said, adding both the Bush administration and Congress must not let this golden opportunity pass by.

"This could be done as an effort to provide confidence-building measures for the future stability of this region. Examples could include projects such as roads, railroads or water projects that cross borders," he said.

"Second, if negotiations lead to a settlement that is agreed upon by India and Pakistan, Congress should provide funding in form of a peace dividend that would bring the two countries, and all of South Asia, together as one economic union," Pallone said.

"The peace dividend could take the form of economic development projects that tie the two countries together for trade and other business purposes. The US would itself benefit from increased trade in South Asia," he said.

Pallone said despite Vajpayee's willingness to negotiate with Pakistan, the Bush administration should exert pressure on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to end cross border terrorism in Kashmir and India.

"In particular, I would like to express my praise for Vajpayee's recent brave steps, given the incessant cross border terrorism in Kashmir," Pallone said.

"In the past, India was insistent that an end to cross border terrorism must occur prior to any renewal of talks between the two nations. Unfortunately, any efforts by President Musharraf to curb terrorism in Kashmir have been merely superficial and Pakistani militant violence in Kashmir has continued to no end," he said.

"I urge President Bush and Secretary of State Powell to pressure Musharraf to end the cross-border terrorism.

"I would like to note that as cold-blooded murder has ensued in Kashmir, this is only aggravated by the fact that the Taleban continues to find safe refuge in many of the border towns of Pakistan," Pallone continued.

"The United States worked so hard to remove the Taleban from power in Afghanistan, and to learn that Taleban members continue to receive moral and financial support from parties within the Pakistani government, including the Pakistani military, is by far the greatest hypocrisy," he said.

"The Bush administration must do more to pressure Musharraf to end support within Pakistan for the Taleban.

"I have no doubt that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, during his visit with both Prime Minister Vajpayee and Prime Minister of Pakistan Jamali, will recognise the recent positive developments from both sides," he added.

PTI