In a "Dear Colleague" letter written in the wake of reports about the plutonium reactor, Gary Ackerman, the co chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans said, "At any time this news would be unwelcome."
Pointing to The Washington Post piece on Monday about the dramatic expansion in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, Ackerman said the import of the story is "truly alarming" in the context of a pending sale by US of F-16 fighter-bombers.
Despite assurances by the Bush Administration that these aircraft will not be misused, or their technology transferred to other countries like China, once these planes have been delivered to Pakistan, there is, in fact, absolutely nothing we can do to prevent misuse," the New York Democrat said in his letter.
"Based on history and strategic analysis, there is every reason to believe the contrary that these F-16s will be drafted for use as nuclear weapons delivery vehicles, and that they will be picked apart by potential adversaries to answer questions about our aviation capabilities."
"Help stop a catastrophe before it happens... and stop the sale of F-16s to Pakistan" the lawmaker, also a senior member in the House International Relations Committee said.
"Since 2003, the United States has filed at least eight nonproliferation sanctions against at least seven Indian entities, including two sanctions in December 2005," the Democratic lawmakers have said.
"As you know, the US House of Representatives will soon consider legislation that would facilitate President Bush's proposal for nuclear cooperation with India.
"In light of the content of past reports and the pending vote on legislation implementing nuclear cooperation with India, it is essential that the State Department submit its overdue report on activities sanctionable under the Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act, as required by law, before any such vote takes place," they said in the letter.
Tauscher further stated that at a time when the international community is threatened by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, "it is critical that the administration release its report on persons that may have provided or received sensitive technology from Iran and Syria, two rogue nations with a poor record in this area."
"Congress is now considering a bill that would open the door to nuclear cooperation between the US and India. Given the grave concerns about the nonproliferation implications of the India nuclear deal, it is staggering that the State Department could be failing to provide Congress with information about illicit transfers of nuclear and chemical weapons related technology and goods from entities located in the State of India," Congresswoman Lee said in her remarks.
