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Military

11 November 2001

Text: Joint Statement of Bush and Pakistani President

(Leaders discuss areas of cooperation, global anti-terror campaign)
(1360)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and President George W. Bush met
in New York November 10 and released a joint statement reaffirming the
strength of the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the United
States.
The leaders, who were in New York for the 56th Session of the U.N.
General Assembly, discussed a range of issues, including the global
coalition against terrorism, U.S. involvement in the South Asian
sub-continent, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and areas of
cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.
According to the joint statement, President Bush recognized Pakistan's
role as a "front-line state" in the global campaign against terrorism
and expressed gratitude for "Pakistan's vital support in the
international campaign," including its role of receiving Afghan
refugees. Bush also emphasized that the United States has great
respect for Islam and noted the fast growth of the Muslim community in
America.
President Musharraf condemned the terrorist attacks of September 11
and welcomed the commitments expressed by President Bush to continue
active engagement in Pakistan and the entire South Asian
sub-continent.
Both leaders agreed that "the international community will have to
provide sizeable and sustained resources for the reconstruction of
Afghanistan" and that "peace and stability in Afghanistan can be
achieved through the institution of a broad-based, multi-ethnic,
representative government, established through consensus among
Afghans, and evolved under the auspices of the United Nations."
The presidents discussed areas of cooperation between the two
countries, including President Bush's decision to lift a number of
sanctions on Pakistan. They also discussed the importance of
Pakistan's transition to democracy in 2002, as well as regional
stability issues in South Asia, including the Kashmir conflict and
relations with India.
Following is the White House text:
(begin White House text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
November 10, 2001
JOINT STATEMENT FOR THE VISIT OF PAKISTANI PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
TO NEW YORK
President George W. Bush and President Pervez Musharraf met in New
York today and reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the bilateral
relationship between Pakistan and the United States. The two
Presidents expressed the conviction that the global coalition against
terrorism is essential for the elimination of the Taliban regime and
the Al-Qaeda network and those who harbor them. President Musharraf
welcomed the clear commitments expressed by President Bush to
continued active United States engagement in Pakistan and the entire
South Asian sub-continent.
President Bush and President Musharraf reaffirmed the benefits of 50
years of friendship and close cooperation between Pakistan and the
United States and recalled the pivotal role of the Pakistan-U.S.
alliance in the triumph of the free world at the end of the cold war.
They welcomed the revival of this longstanding partnership and
expressed their conviction that it would constitute a vital element in
the construction of a durable structure of peace, stability, economic
growth and enhanced prosperity at the regional and global level. They
also held wide-ranging discussions on the current anti-terrorism
campaign and exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international
issues.
President Musharraf strongly condemned the terrorist attacks of
September 11 and conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the people
and government of Pakistan to the people and government of the United
States. President Bush recognized Pakistan's role as a front-line
state in the global campaign against terrorism and expressed gratitude
for Pakistan's vital support in the international campaign. Both
leaders agreed to continue their ongoing excellent cooperation and to
pursue a coherent and coordinated diplomatic, political, military,
economic, financial and humanitarian strategy to eliminate terrorism.
President Bush stressed that the United States and Pakistan are
friends of long-standing and that Pakistan is a great Islamic nation.
He emphasized that the United States has great respect for Islam and
noted the fast growth of the Islamic community in America. President
Bush stated that our campaign is against those who pervert a great
religion in the service of evil. President Bush and President
Musharraf also discussed means of easing the plight of the Afghan
refugees. President Bush recognized the leading role that Pakistan has
played in receiving and caring for Afghan refugees and emphasized that
the United States is the largest foreign donor of humanitarian aid.
Even tonight, using our military resources, United States planes are
dropping badly needed food supplies to the Afghan people.
The two presidents agreed that the international community will have
to provide sizeable and sustained resources for the reconstruction of
Afghanistan. They also affirmed their support for the efforts of the
United Nations, Secretary General Annan, and Special Envoy Brahimi.
They agreed that peace and stability in Afghanistan can be achieved
through the institution of a broad-based, multi-ethnic, representative
government, established through consensus among Afghans, and evolved
under the auspices of the United Nations. They also acknowledged that
Afghanistan should enjoy friendly relations with all its neighbors and
be a link between Central and South Asia, and free from the scourge of
terrorism and drugs.
President Musharraf welcomed President Bush's decision to lift a
number of sanctions that allow the resumption of cooperation with
Pakistan. They agreed that the bilateral relationship is built on the
shared interests and values of the American and Pakistani peoples.
President Bush welcomed the efforts that the Pakistani citizens are
making to support the coalition against terrorism. Affirming their
commitment to Pakistan's economic stabilization and revival program,
President Bush pledged to promote economic assistance to Pakistan.
President Bush confirmed that he will extend support to enable
Pakistan to respond to the economic challenges it confronts. The two
presidents discussed ways to make good on the enormous potential for
increased trade and investment between Pakistan and the United States
and agreed to enter into extensive talks regarding economic issues.
President Bush affirmed that the United States is committed to working
with the international financial institutions to provide additional
support for Pakistan. Financial assistance, debt relief, greater trade
and investment opportunities, and sound Pakistani economic policies
should assist Pakistan in its efforts to spur sustainable economic
growth. Additionally, President Bush undertook to consider ways to
respond to Pakistan's market access expectations.
President Bush and President Musharraf discussed a broad range of
regional security issues. Both underscored the importance of Pakistan
to have a successful transition to democracy in 2002. President Bush
and President Musharraf agreed to continue and expand defense
consultations. President Bush welcomed President Musharraf's
commitment to hold elections by October 2002 and to build a stable,
democratic and prosperous Pakistan, in which the rights of all
Pakistanis are fully protected.
President Bush and President Musharraf expressed shared concern about
the threat to global stability posed by the proliferation of ballistic
missiles and weapons of mass destruction. They agreed on the need for
a comprehensive approach to counter these threats, including enhanced
non-proliferation measures at the global and regional level. President
Musharraf looked forward to further discussions with the United States
on these issues.
The two leaders discussed ways to promote stability in South Asia.
President Bush praised President Musharraf's recent call to Prime
Minister Vajpayee of India. President Bush and President Musharraf
agreed that India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue
through diplomacy and dialogue in mutually acceptable ways that take
into account the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
President Bush and President Musharraf resolved to work together
closely to expand bilateral and regional trade. They agreed that
launching a new global trade round in Doha is a top priority for both
nations. They confirmed their commitment to achieve open markets in
South Asia, including using the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation 's (SAARC) full potential more effectively. The two
leaders agreed that the United States will continue to take steps to
strengthen Pakistan's economy. They agreed that the United States and
Pakistan can accomplish great things together and that the American
and Pakistani people look forward to building peace, stability and
prosperity, both in South Asia and around the world.
(end White House text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) 



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