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Military

10 November 2001

Transcript: Bush, Musharraf Pledge Mutual Support in Anti-Terror Effort

(U.S., Pakistani presidents brief after Nov. 10 talks in New York)
(1730)
President Bush, in remarks in New York November 10 after talks with
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, praised the contribution of
Pakistan and Musharraf to the campaign against terrorism, and
Musharraf offered assurances that his country will remain committed to
the effort.
At a joint briefing, Bush also said in response to a question that the
United States will ask the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan not to
enter Kabul in its drive to push back Taliban forces in that country.
"I think we share a common view that in order for there to be a
country that is stable and peaceful on this good leader's western
border, that any power arrangement must be shared with the different
tribes within Afghanistan," Bush said. "And a key signal of that will
be how the city of Kabul is treated. We will encourage our friends to
head south, across the Shamali Plains, but not into the city of Kabul,
itself. And we believe we can accomplish our military missions by that
strategy."
Following is a transcript of the joint Bush-Musharraf briefing:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary(New York, New York)
November 10, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF OF PAKISTAN IN PRESS
AVAILABILITY
Waldorf Astoria New York, New York
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good evening. In our hour of need, just after the
terrorist attacks on September the 11th, President Musharraf quickly
condemned the evildoers. He's shown even greater courage and vision
and leadership in the weeks since.
Our nations share an urgent mission, which is to stop and defeat
terrorism wherever it may exist. That mission is not directed against
those who practice Islam. That mission is directed against evil
people.
We discussed ways to accelerate our progress in Afghanistan against al
Qaeda and the Taliban. We also discussed our humanitarian efforts to
help Afghans through the winter. And we spent time on the need to work
together for long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan, once the Taliban
no longer hold power.
Pakistan's efforts against terror are benefitting the entire world and
linking Pakistan more closely with the world. The United States wants
to help build these linkages. I've authorized a lifting of sanctions,
and over $1 billion in U.S. support. I will also back debt relief for
Pakistan.
I want to thank Senators Grassley and Baucus of our United States
Congress for introducing legislation that will improve market access
in the United States to Pakistan's products.
I'm pleased that the President is committed to restore democracy in
Pakistan. Pakistan is a strong ally; President Musharraf is a strong
leader, and the world is deeply appreciative for his leadership.
Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF: Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's my
pleasure to be talking to all of you. Let me, first of all, say that
I, myself, my government, and the people of Pakistan condemn in the
strongest terms the wanton act of terrorism on the 11th of September
against the United States. We condole with all the grieved.
Having said that, let me right away say that Pakistan has taken the
considered decision to be a part of the coalition, to be with the
United States, to fight terrorism in all its forms wherever it exists.
And let me also assure the President that Pakistan will remain
committed to this -- to the fight against terrorism.
We also -- or I also see now the start of a dawn of a new era of a
relationship between Pakistan and the United States. Pakistan will
hope for a very sustainable and longstanding futuristic relationship
developing between Pakistan and the United States; a relationship
which we always have had in the past.
Having said that, let me say that I had very fruitful discussions with
the President on Afghanistan and on the method of fighting terrorism.
On Afghanistan, we have unanimity of views on a political dispensation
which needs to be encouraged through the people of Afghanistan, to be
brought into Afghanistan. And we have, in addition, a humanitarian
relief package that needs to be worked out. We have total unanimity of
views on these.
Lastly, I did apprise the President on Pakistan's concerns and
Pakistan's difficulties from the fallout of whatever is happening in
our region. And let me very gladly say that the President showed total
concern for it and also assured us, assured Pakistan to help out in
the maximum possible way. I remain extremely grateful to the President
for his concern for Pakistan and for his desire to assist Pakistan
through the difficulties that we are facing at the moment.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: The President has agreed to take some questions, and
so have I. Both of us will take two questions from each side, starting
with Mr. Fournier of Associated Press.
Q: Thank you, sir. I'd like to ask both of you about the same topic.
Secretary Powell suggested yesterday that the Northern Alliance
shouldn't take control of Kabul. Does that mean you would discourage
them from seizing the capital? And please explain what he meant when
he said that Kabul should become an open city and use post-World War
II Berlin as an example.
And to you, Mr. President, why don't you think Kabul should be taken
by the Northern Alliance?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think we share a common view that in order for
there to be a country that is stable and peaceful on this good
leader's western border, that any power arrangement must be shared
with the different tribes within Afghanistan. And a key signal of that
will be how the city of Kabul is treated. We will encourage our
friends to head south, across the Shamali Plains, but not into the
city of Kabul, itself. And we believe we can accomplish our military
missions by that strategy.
So it's a -- the Secretary -- I don't want to put words in the good
Secretary's mouth, but we believe a strategy that makes sense for the
long run is one that is all encompassing. And a signal of that
strategy will be how the city of Kabul is treated.
PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF: Well, I agree with the President totally. Why I
have been recommending that Kabul should not be occupied by the
Northern Alliance basically is because of the past experience that
we've had when the various ethnic groups were in hold of Kabul after
the Soviets left. There was total atrocities, killings and mayhem
within the city. And I think if the Northern Alliance enter
Afghanistan -- enters Kabul, we'll see the same kind of atrocities
being perpetuated against the people there, against the populace
there, which needs to be avoided.
Q: Do you agree with that rationale, President Bush?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I said one question, now you're going with three.
(Laughter.)
Why don't you call on somebody  -- 
Q: Mr. President  -- 
Q: Mr. President  -- 
PRESIDENT BUSH: Which one?  (Laughter.)
Q: This is for President Bush. I ask my President questions at home.
President Bush, your government and -- the U.S. government in the past
and currently has been proactively using the U.N. Security Council to
solve problems in conflict areas. When will you invoke the U.N.
Security Council to intervene on the issue of Kashmir, which is
clearly an issue which is at the basis of conflict in South Asia?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we've had a very good discussion on this
subject, and I assured the President that my country will do what we
can to bring parties together, to have good, meaningful discussions on
the subject so that we can come up with a solution.
Q: And United Nations involvement in it, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think our involvement is exactly how I described it
to the President.
Q: Mr. President, Osama bin Laden says he already has nuclear and
chemical weapons. Do you believe him, and where do you think he would
get them from?
PRESIDENT BUSH: The only thing I know certain about him is that he's
evil. And I don't know what to believe about him, except that he wants
to hurt Americans. I suspect he now wants to hurt the people of
Pakistan. And we're not going to let him. We will do everything we can
to stop him here at home, and we're doing everything we can to hunt
him down and bring him to justice.
Those kind of statements he utters reinforces the coalition's efforts
to bring him to justice, and that's exactly what's going to happen
with Mr. Osama bin Laden -- all the more reason for us to pursue him
diligently and to get him. And that's what we're going to do.
Q: It's Pakistan's turn now.  (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Fine by me.  (Laughter.)
Q: My question is addressed to President George Bush. Mr. President,
United States of America time and again has said that it is against --
eradicate all sort of terrorism. My question to you, Mr. President, is
when are you going to deal with the question of state-sponsored
terrorism? My question is in reference to the Kashmir situation,
first. And the other part of my question is, how do you view the
personal contribution and role of Pakistan's leader, General
Musharraf, in countering global terrorism? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, thank you very much. My government strongly
condemned the terrorist attacks on October the 1st, strongly condemned
them, as did President Musharraf. He condemned those attacks, as well.
We share the same vision about terror, that it should not exist
anywhere in the world.
The President is working hard to strengthen Pakistan. He's got an
education vision which I find to be enlightened. After all, he's got a
very brilliant woman running the education department of Pakistan. The
reason I bring that up is both of us work hard to make our countries
hopeful and optimistic, and we recognize that a terrorist attack on
either one of us will disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, and
disrupt our plans to bring prosperity and hope and opportunity for our
respective countries.
Thank you all very much. Have a good evening tonight in New York City.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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