[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[December 4, 1998]
[Pages 2127-2129]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement From Pakistan and the United States
December 4, 1998

    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,

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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

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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.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.