The White House Briefing Room
December 4, 1998
JOINT STATEMENT FROM PAKISTAN AND THE UNITED STATES
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 4, 1998
JOINT STATEMENT FROM PAKISTAN AND THE UNITED STATES
At the invitation of President Bill Clinton, the Prime Minister of
Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, visited Washington on 1-4 December 1998.
The Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome in Washington.
During a cordial and productive meeting and luncheon at the White
House on December 2, President Clinton and Prime Minister Sharif stressed
the importance of the longstanding friendship and cooperative relations
between Pakistan and the United States. They reaffirmed their commitment
to further improve bilateral relations and addressed a number of issues of
common concern.
The two leaders reviewed progress in the U.S.-Pakistan dialogue on
security and nonproliferation. The President welcomed the Prime Minister?s
statement made at the UN General Assembly regarding adherence to the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Pakistan?s decision to participate
constructively in the upcoming negotiations at Geneva on a Fissile Material
Cut-off Treaty, consistent with its legitimate security interests.
The President emphasized the importance the U.S. attaches to further
progress on nonproliferation and peace and security in South Asia. The
Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan?s desire to exercise mutual restraint with
India consistent with Pakistan?s security interests. Both sides welcomed
progress made in the U.S.-Pakistani dialogue on security and
nonproliferation. The President noted that further progress would
facilitate the restoration of broad-based cooperation between the United
States and Pakistan.
The President reaffirmed the United States? strong interest in a
stable and prosperous Pakistan and reiterated the U.S. commitment to assist
Pakistan through its current economic difficulties. Both leaders endorsed
the efforts of the International Monetary Fund and multilateral development
banks to assist Pakistan. They agreed that an effective, expeditiously
approved, and fully implemented IMF program would be a major step to help
Pakistan in maintaining sustained economic growth. They acknowledged the
importance of reaching a settlement between the Pakistani government and
foreign energy investors and expressed hope that such an agreement would
help attract fresh foreign investment.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated President Clinton?s decision
to waive some of the sanctions which had been imposed on Pakistan. He
expressed hope that further steps would be taken to remove all remaining
sanctions. In this regard, the President emphasized the need for further
progress in the ongoing U.S.-Pakistani dialogue on security and
nonproliferation. The Prime Minister informed President Clinton about
Pakistan?s conventional defense requirements. He emphasized the need for
an early and fair resolution of the F-16 issue. The President reaffirmed
his commitment to such a resolution.
The two leaders reviewed the security situation in South Asia and
emphasized the need to resolve all outstanding issues in the interest of
peace and stability in the region. Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the
centrality of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to peace and security in South
Asia and emphasized the need for an early resolution of this dispute in
accordance with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. The
President emphasized the importance of the continuation of bilateral
negotiations between Pakistan and India with a view to addressing the root
causes of their disputes, including Kashmir, taking into account the wishes
of the Kashmiri people. President Clinton reiterated his support for these
negotiations and his expectation that they will bring results beneficial to
both Pakistan and India. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif welcomed the interest
shown by the international community in addressing the Kashmir issue and
emphasized his belief that the major powers, especially the United States,
need to effectively engage in facilitating a just and lasting solution to
the dispute. The President said the United States was willing to lend its
assistance to the bilateral dialogue if both sides requested it.
The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed their strong
opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They
expressed their resolve to work closely to combat international terrorism
and emphasized the need for prompt and effective action against
international terrorists.
The two leaders agreed to work for an immediate end to the conflict in
Afghanistan and the restoration of durable peace, stability and normalcy in
the country based on the principals of sovereignty, territorial integrity
and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as a political
reconciliation and respect for the human rights of all Afghan citizens,
including women and girls and ethnic minorities. In this context, they
endorsed the efforts of the United Nations "Six Plus Two" group.
The President welcomed Pakistan?s efforts to combat narcotics and
offered additional funds for law enforcement training. The Prime Minister
appreciated the offer, which would strengthen Pakistan?s counternarcotics
enforcement agencies and meet common goals, including interdiction,
extraditions, and eradication.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed to remain in close contact
and to continue efforts to build a strong and more broad-based relationship
between the two countries. The Prime Minister reiterated his cordial
invitation already extended to President Clinton to visit Pakistan. The
President said that he hoped it would be possible to visit Pakistan next
year.
30-30-30
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