REPS LIEU AND MALINOWSKI URGE INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO CONDEMN RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led two separate letters to U.S. Ambassador to India Taranjit Singh Sandhu and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Asad Majeed Khan urging their governments to condemn Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The bipartisan letters are in response to both countries' abstention from the UN General Assembly's March 2nd vote, in which 141 countries voted to condemn Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
In the letter to the Indian Ambassador, the Members write:
Dear Ambassador Sandhu:
As you know, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Hundreds and possibly thousands of casualties – including of an Indian national – have occurred since Russian launched its invasion. Over two million refugees have fled Ukraine. The International Criminal Court announced that it has opened an investigation into possible war crimes that the Russian military has committed in Ukraine. Each day that this conflict continues, civilians – including children – are killed and wounded, and families are torn apart.
Russia's unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation is an assault not only on global peace but on our shared values of democracy and freedom. The United States, our allies, and our partners continue to show unity and strength in condemning the Russian invasion and reaffirming Ukraine's sovereignty. We must hold Russia accountable for its actions and put an end to this needless violence.
Though we understand India's relationship with Russia, we are disappointed with your government's decision to abstain from the UN General Assembly's March 2 vote. Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine undermines the rules-based order, and by invading Ukraine, Russia is trying to destroy a set of rules that protect India as well. India's historic support for the UN Charter and the principles of territorial integrity gives us hope that India will join other democracies to support Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression.
We deeply value the relationship between the United States and India. At the same time, we are disappointed that India has taken this approach in response to Russia's actions. We understand that India walks a difficult middle ground, but Russia's actions have no place in the 21st century. Many countries who have relationships with Russia did the right thing and condemned the Russian government – they chose the right side of history and so should India. We hope that India will move away from its current position that places blame on both sides and acknowledge that Russia is the aggressor in this conflict.
Sincerely,
READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE
In the letter to the Pakistani Ambassador, the Members write:
Dear Ambassador Khan:
As you know, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Hundreds and possibly thousands of casualties – including children – have occurred since, and over two million refugees have fled Ukraine. The International Criminal Court announced that it has opened an investigation into possible war crimes that the Russian military has committed in Ukraine. Each day that this conflict continues, civilians are killed and wounded, and families are torn apart.
Russia's unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation is an assault not only on global peace but on our shared values of democracy and freedom. The United States, our allies, and our partners continue to show unity and strength in condemning the Russian invasion and reaffirming Ukraine's sovereignty. We must hold Russia accountable for its actions and put an end to this needless violence.
We are disappointed with your government's decision to abstain from the UN General Assembly's March 2 vote. We are also disappointed that Prime Minister Imran Khan announced bilateral trade agreements with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister's decision to proceed with his visit to Moscow, at a moment when the world was uniting in support of Ukraine, ran counter to the international community's efforts to reaffirm Ukraine's territorial integrity and call out Russia as the aggressor.
Many countries who have relationships with Russia did the right thing and condemned the Russian government – they chose the right side of history and so should Pakistan. We urge you to strongly, unequivocally condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and call for the immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces.
Sincerely,