[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

[[Page 1382]]

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.