Order Code RS21584
Updated August 4, 2003
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Pakistan: Chronology of Events
K. Alan Kronstadt
Analyst in Asian Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This report provides a reverse chronology of major events involving Pakistan and
Pakistan-U.S. relations from September 2001.1 For a substantive review of Pakistan-
U.S. relations, see CRS Issue Brief IB94041, Pakistan-U.S. Relations. This report will
be updated regularly.
08/01/03 — G o v e r n me n t o ff i c ia ls fr o m
Acronyms
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
ASEAN: Association of Southeast
Afghanistan signed a protocol that
Asian Nations
would allow these countries to
LOC:
Kashmiri Line of
access Pakistani ports. On the
Control
same day, Noor Fatima, a
MMA:
Muttahida Majlis-e-
Pakistani toddler who had traveled
Amal (or United Action
Front), a coalition of six
to India for heart surgery and
Islamist political parties
became a “peace icon” in the
NWFP:
North West Frontier
process, returned home.
Province
07/31/03 — Pakistan and India agreed to dates
SAARC: South Asian Association
in late August to discuss the
for Regional
resumption of air links and
Cooperation
overflight rights.
WMD:
weapons of mass
07/30/03 — I n d i a n D e f e n s e M i n i s t e r
destruction
Fernandes indicated that “The
situation along the LOC remains
unchanged,” and he claimed that about 3,000 “terrorists” were being
trained in camps on the Pakistani side. On the same day, India’s Junior
Home Minister accused the Pakistani intelligence agency of “making
attempts to revive militancy in Punjab.”
1 Sources include, but are not limited to, USIS Washington File, New York Times, Washington
Post, BBC News, Reuters News, Agence France-Presse, Dawn (Karachi), Daily Times (Lahore),
News International (Karachi), Hindu (Madras), and Hindustan Times (Delhi).
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
07/29/03 — U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Myers arrived in
Islamabad for meetings with senior Pakistani military officials. While
there, he called the Pakistani armed forces “very competent” and said that
the future of U.S.-Pakistan defense cooperation is “very bright.”
07/27/03 — Talks between the government and the MMA Islamist coalition ended
without finding a resolution of the ongoing dispute over President
Musharraf’s controversial 2002 constitutional amendments or his status
as Army Chief.
07/26/03 — A spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry accused India of “trying
to disrupt relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan” through the
organization and financing of terrorists acts by its consulates in
Afghanistan. On the same day, U.S. Ambassador to India Blackwill said,
“There are still terrorists coming across the [Kashmiri] Line of Control.”
07/25/03 — A spate of violence in the Kashmir region left 23 people dead, including
13 killed by Indian troops along the disputed border with Pakistan. On the
same day, Indian Foreign Minister Sinha said that “Pakistan’s links with
terrorism have not ended” and that “there cannot be meaningful dialogue
at any level” if terrorist attacks continue to take place in Kashmir. Also,
16 Members of Congress sent a letter to President Bush outlining their
concerns about Pakistan’s progress in the areas of nonproliferation, anti-
terrorism, and democratization.
07/24/03 — The United Nations suspended staff travel to Pakistan’s North West
Frontier Province after gunmen attacked one of their staff cars. On the
same day, a flight carrying 75 Pakistanis deported from the United States
arrived in Islamabad.
07/23/03 — The new head of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Abizaid, traveled to
Islamabad to meet with senior Pakistani leaders, including President
Musharraf, whom he thanked for Pakistan’s “excellent cooperation” in
anti-terrorism efforts. On the same day, an Israeli press report claimed
that Iran received uranium enrichment technology from Pakistan during
the 1990s.
07/22/03 — Militants attacked an Indian army camp in Kashmir, killing 7 soldiers.
New Delhi blamed the attack on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-i-Taiba
terrorist group. On the same day, India’s Junior Home Minister indicated
that there had been no significant change in “terrorist activities” in
Kashmir as compared to 2002.
07/21/03 — A spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that Pakistan had
not made a final decision on sending troops to Iraq, indicating that
Islamabad was willing to contribute forces “under legitimate cover of the
United Nations or if we are invited by the Iraqis.” On the same day, at
least 7 Hindu pilgrims were killed and another 20 injured by explosions
in Indian Kashmir.
07/20/03 — Acting Commander of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Gen. Hagenbeck
said that “hundreds” of Taliban fighters have crossed into Afghanistan
from Pakistan, and that regrouped Taliban forces are being supported by
Al Qaeda operatives.
07/19/03 — A press report indicated that two rounds of talks between senior Pakistani
and Chinese military officials included an agreement to hold joint naval
exercises. These would be the first-ever such exercises involving China
and any foreign navy.

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CRS-3
07/18/03 — During an unusual week-long visit to India in which he met with top
Indian officials, Pakistani Opposition Leader and top Islamist politician
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the 1972 Simla Agreement between
Pakistan and India could serve as a “guiding principle” for bilateral
dispute resolution.
07/17/03 — Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Rocca stated that the United
States “has accepted that [Pakistan and India] have nuclear weapons” and
believes that “the government of Pakistan is in control of its nuclear
assets.” She also said Pakistan “needs conventional weapons” and the
United States “would like to help [Pakistan] acquire” them. On the same
day, the United States freed 11 of the 54 Pakistani nationals who were
being held at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.
07/16/03 — H.R. 1950 (the Foreign Relations Authorization Act) was passed by the
House. Sec. 709 of the Act requires the President to report to Congress on
actions taken by Pakistan to close terrorist camps, prohibit infiltration at
the Kashmiri Line of Control, and cease the transfer of WMD to any third
parties.
07/15/03 — The Tripartite Commission of officials from the United States, Pakistan,
and Afghanistan met in Kabul to discuss ongoing efforts to stabilize the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. On the same day, President
Musharraf linked Pakistani diplomatic recognition of Israel with a
settlement of the Palestinian issue.
07/14/03 — Indian Foreign Secretary Sibal said that India will attend a SAARC
summit meeting of regional leaders scheduled to be held in Islamabad in
January 2004, though he did not say if India would be represented by PM
Vajpayee. On the same day, at least 21 people were killed in separatist-
related violence in Kashmir.
07/13/03 — The government of Baluchistan established an Islamist legal council.
07/11/03 — In a sign of warming bilateral relations, the first Indian bus to Pakistan in
18 months crossed the border on its way to Lahore. On the same day, two
people were killed when a bomb exploded outside a Karachi office
building.
07/08/03 — The U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee issued a report that expressed
concerns about charities linked to Al Qaeda being allowed to continue
operating schools and other cultural institutions in Pakistan. On the same
day several hundred Afghanis in Kabul ransacked the Pakistani embassy
in an attack that Pakistani officials called premeditated.
07/07/03 — Afghanistan’s President Karzai expressed anger at the Pakistani President
for comments suggesting that Karzai was not in full control of his
government.
07/04/03 — Suicide bombers attacked a Shiite mosque in Quetta, killing at least 53.
PM Jamali suggested that “foreign elements” were to blame, but later
indications show that the indigenous Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, a Sunni militant
group, was responsible.
07/02/03 — Pakistani authorities arrested two Islamic militants, including an alleged
leader of the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, who are
suspected of masterminding attacks on Pakistani Christians in 2002 that
left 11 dead.
07/01/03 — The pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatist Hizbul Mujahideen said they were
“ready to extend cooperation” to the nascent Pakistan-India peace process.

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CRS-4
On the same day, Pakistani police arrested a commander of the outlawed
Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group. Abdul Jabbar is believed to have
organized two separate anti-Christian attacks that left 11 dead.
06/30/03 — Pakistan’s new High Commissioner arrived in New Delhi, restoring
diplomatic links that were severed in December 2001. On the same day,
a Pakistani court sentenced three Islamic militants to death for their roles
in a May 2002 car bombing in Karachi that killed 11 French military
technicians.
06/29/03 — President Musharraf called for a national debate on the issue of Pakistan’s
potential diplomatic recognition of Israel.
06/28/03 — Two suspected separatist militants attacked an army camp in Indian
Kashmir, killing 12 soldiers and wounding another 7. The Indian
government called the attack “part of the Pakistan-sponsored proxy war
in Kashmir.”
06/27/03 — The F.B.I. arrested 11 men in three eastern U.S. states for preparing for
“violent jihad” against foreign targets in Kashmir. Reports indicate that
the group had close ties to the outlawed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba
terrorist group, and that at least 7 had received militant training in
Pakistan.
06/26/03 — A leader of a Pakistani Islamist party expressed support for armed
resistance by local tribal groups against Pakistani army troops that are
seeking to extend the government’s control over border areas near
Afghanistan.
06/25/03 — The United States and Pakistan signed a Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement and a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. On
the dame day, President Musharraf accepted “in principle” a U.S. request
that Pakistan contribute peacekeeping troops to an Iraqi “stabilization
force.”
06/24/03 — President Bush hosted President Musharraf at Camp David and praised the
Pakistani leader for his country’s support in the U.S.-led anti-terrorist
campaign while pledging to provide Pakistan with $3 billion in U.S.
military and economic assistance from FY2005-FY2009.
06/23/03 — Unusually lethal violence killed 16 and wounded 40 in Indian Kashmir.
On the same day, Pakistani authorities arrested five Islamic militants,
including “most-wanted” members of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi
terrorist group.
06/21/03 — U.S., Afghani, and Pakistani troops launched a major operation aimed at
halting Taliban activity near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
06/20/03 — Islamabad froze the assets of 15 organizations and individuals with
alleged ties to Osama bin Laden and Pakistani terrorist groups.
06/19/03 — A former U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan testified before Congress that
some elements of Pakistan’s intelligence service were “assist[ing] radical
Afghan groups mounting attacks into Afghanistan from bases in
Pakistan.”
06/18/03 — Pakistani authorities arrested five suspected Al Qaeda members in a
wealthy neighborhood of Peshawar. Algerian Adil al-Jazeeri is believed
to be a long-time aide to Osama bin Laden. On the same day, India
blocked Pakistan’s bid to join the ASEAN Regional Forum, and Indian
PM Vajpayee stated that Pakistan is “preparing for a fourth defeat” in its
historic conflict with India.

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CRS-5
06/17/03
— Senior American, Pakistani, and Afghani military officers
met
in
Islamabad to establish a commission in an effort to halt raids into
Afghanistan from Pakistan by Taliban and other militants. On the same
day, ten Indian parliamentarians arrived in Pakistan on an 8-day “peace
mission.”
06/14/03 — The Pakistani Parliament approved a $14 billion budget in a session
boycotted by the opposition MMA Islamist parties.
06/13/03 — The U.S. Ambassador to India stated that, “Terrorism emanating from
Pakistan [to India] has not ended.”
06/08/03 — Gunmen attacked Pakistani police recruits near Quetta, killing 11 and
injuring 9, most of them Shiites. On the same day, in response to Islamist
legislation passed in the North West Frontier Province, President
Musharraf stated that, “The people of Pakistan do not want a theocratic
state and are strongly opposed to the Talibanization of society.”
06/03/03 — A high-level meeting chaired by President Musharraf threatened to take
“constitutional measures” if the NWFP government fails to improve the
law and order situation there. On the same day, a Pew Center opinion poll
found that 72% of Pakistanis were “very worried” or “somewhat worried”
about a perceived military threat from the United States, and that 45% had
at least “some confidence” in Osama bin Laden’s ability to “do the right
thing regarding world affairs.”
06/02/03 — The MMA-ruled legislature of the NWFP passed a bill that introduces
Sharia (Islamic) law in the region. They plan to follow the move with the
creation of a Department of Vice and Virtue to implement the new laws.
On the same day, while visiting Islamabad, F.B.I. Director Mueller met
with President Musharraf and other top officials to discuss ongoing
Pakistan-U.S. anti-terrorism cooperation.
04/03
— Pakistani PM Jamali and Indian PM Vajpayee had the first direct contact
between national leaders since the July 2001 summit in Agra, India.
03/03
— Alleged top Al Qaeda leader Khalid Mohammed was arrested in
Rawalpindi. Also, President Bush declined to take action related to
alleged Pakistani assistance to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program,
and he waived coup-related sanctions on Islamabad through FY2003 (the
United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan’s Khan Research
Laboratories for its role in receiving missile-related technology from
North Korea). Islamabad expressed disapproval of the U.S.-led invasion
of Iraq. In Indian Kashmir, 24 Hindu villagers were killed by apparent
Muslim militants. India blamed Pakistan for the attack.
11/02
— A fragile coalition of pro-military parties elected veteran politician Mir
Zafarullah Jamali to be the Pakistan’s new prime minister, the first since
Nawaz Sharif was ousted in an October 1999 military coup.
10/02
— Pakistan held its first national elections since an October 1999 military
coup. The pro-military PML-Q party won a plurality of parliamentary
seats while an Islamist coalition made a surprisingly strong showing in the
western provinces. The secular PPP of former PM Bhutto was shut out of
both the national and provincial coalitions. Following the elections, both
India and Pakistan announced major troop redeployments, signaling the
end of a tense 10-month-long military face-off along their shared border.

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CRS-6
09/02
— A moribund U.S.-Pakistan security relationship was revived when
officials from both countries met in Islamabad for the first Defense
Cooperation Group session since 1997.
08/02
— President Musharraf issued a “Legal Framework Order” of controversial
constitutional changes that greatly enhance the governance powers of both
the President and the Pakistani military.
07/02
— Congress was notified of two pending U.S. arms sales to Pakistan, the first
in more than a decade. The 7 C-130 aircraft and 6 Aerostat surveillance
radars are meant to bolster Islamabad’s counterterrorism capabilities.
06/02
— Intense international diplomatic pressure — including multiple visits to
the region by senior U.S. government officials — apparently persuaded
India to refrain from taking military action against Pakistan. Key to the
effort were promises by Pakistani President Musharraf to U.S. Deputy
Secretary of State Armitage that all infiltration of militants across the Line
of Control would be halted. Also, a car bomb exploded outside the U.S.
consulate in Karachi, killing 12 Pakistani nationals. The attack was
blamed on Islamic radicals who may have had links to Al Qaeda.
05/02
— A terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir killed 34,
mostly women and children. New Delhi blamed the attack on the “cross-
border terrorism” of Pakistani-sponsored militants and vowed to fight a
“decisive war” against Pakistan. Also, a car bomb killed 14, including 11
French military technicians, outside a Karachi hotel. The attack was
blamed on Islamic radicals who may have had links to Al Qaeda.
04/02
— A controversial referendum ostensibly legitimized Gen. Musharraf’s status
as Pakistani President, though Musharraf later apologized to the nation for
acknowledged irregularities in the process.
Spring
— U.S. military and law enforcement personnel began engaging in direct, but
low-profile efforts to assist Pakistani forces in tracking and apprehending
fugitive Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters on Pakistani territory.
03/02

— The U.S. military’s Operation Anaconda in
Afghanistan’s
eastern
mountains apparently prompted two waves of up to 5,000 Al Qaeda
fighters fleeing into Pakistan.
01/02
— President Musharraf delivered a landmark address in which he vowed to
end all Islamic extremism and terrorist activity originating from Pakistani
soil. Also, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnaped by
Islamic radicals in Karachi and was later found dead.
12/01
— A terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi killed
14. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistani-backed Islamic militants
and began a massive military mobilization. Also, the United States
designated two Pakistan-based militant groups — Lashkar-e-Taiba and
Jaish-e-Mohammed — as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under U.S. law.
10/01
— A terrorist attack on the assembly building in Indian Kashmir killed 34.
India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed separatist militants.
09/01
— Terrorist attacks on the United States, and ensuing U.S. diplomatic
pressure, transformed the Pakistan-U.S. relationship, spurring the
Islamabad government to sever ties with the Afghani Taliban and join in
the U.S.-led anti-terrorism campaign as a key front-line state. Within one
month, all remaining proliferation- and democracy-related restrictions on
U.S. aid to Pakistan were removed or waived, and large amounts of U.S.
economic and military assistance began flowing into the country.

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