Speech #980218184

I was out of the Chamber when the distinguished minority leader completed his statement on his amendment. He is to be commended for this amendment. It was my privilege. recently. to visit Pakistan and to see the plight of the Afghanistan refugees. It is a fact that various international organizations are providing some support for these people. but the Government of Pakistan. a country that is in economic difficulty. a country with limited resources. is still bearing about 50 percent of the burden of support for those Afghan refugees. Pakistan is in a difficult position because they feel militarily threatened by the Soviet Union on the north and by India. a country with whom their relationship has not always been the best. on the south. They have been strong supporters of American policy in the region. I think it not only is a moral obligation on the rest of the world to assist the Afghan refugees. but also. there is a strong responsibility on the part of the West to help relieve Pakistan of this enormous burden that the Pakistanis have very cheerfully undertaken. I might add. So I commend to the Senate the amendment of the Senator from West Virginia. and I hope it will receive unanimous support of this body.