    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 10, 2001]
    [Pages 1381-1383]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Pervez Musharraf of
    Pakistan and an Exchange With Reporters in
    New York City
    November 10, 2001

        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 Qaida 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 benefiting 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

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    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 or a dawn of a new era of
    relationship between Pakistan and United States. Pakistan will hope for
    a very sustainable and longstanding, futuristic relationship developing
    between Pakistan and 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 matter 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 a rehabilitation and a
    humanitarian relief strategy 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 [Ron Fournier, Associated Press] of Associated Press.

    Afghanistan Northern Alliance

        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 used 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 enters 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, General?
        Q. Mr. President----
        Q. Mr. President----

    [[Page 1383]]

        President Musharraf. Ladies first.
        President Bush. Which one? [Laughter]

    Kashmir Conflict

        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.
        Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].

    Usama bin Laden

        Q. Mr. President, Usama 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 we're going to 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. Usama 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]

    Terrorism

        Q. My question is addressed to President George Bush. Mr. President,
    United States of America, time and again, has said that it is against
    and it will eradicate all sort of terrorism. My question to you, Mr.
    President, is, when you are 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 Pervez
    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.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:21 p.m. in the Empire Room at the
    Waldorf-Astoria hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Usama bin Laden,
    leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; and Minister for
    Education Zebeda Jalad of Pakistan.