[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
[February 13, 2002]
[Pages 220-226]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
The President's News Conference With President Pervez
Musharraf of Pakistan
February 13, 2002
President Bush Good morning. It's my honor to welcome President
Musharraf to the White House. President Musharraf is a leader with great
courage and vision, and his nation is a key partner in the global
coalition against terror. Pakistan's continuing support of Operation
Enduring Freedom has been critical to our success so far in toppling the
Taliban and routing out the Al Qaida network.
Yet President Musharraf has made an even broader commitment. He has
declared that Pakistan will be an enemy of terrorism and extremism
wherever it exists, including inside his own border. He understands that
terrorism is wrong and destructive in any cause. He knows that his
nation cannot grow peacefully if terrorists are tolerated or ignored in
his country, in his region, or in the world. He is committed to banning
the groups that practice terror, closing their offices and arresting the
terrorists themselves.
Terrorists operating in Pakistan recently kidnaped American reporter
Daniel Pearl. We spent a time today in the Oval
Office
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talking about our mutual desire to see that Mr. Pearl is returned home
safely. I want to thank the President for his assistance and work on
securing Mr. Pearl's release.
I also applaud President Musharraf's clearly stated intention to
work for peace in Kashmir and lower tensions with India. I'm
particularly pleased to note that he is going to be holding elections
later on this fall.
The President has articulated a vision of a Pakistan as a
progressive, modern, and democratic Islamic society, determined and
serious about seeking greater learning and greater prosperity for its
citizens. The United States is committed to working in partnership with
Pakistan to pursue these objectives.
Together, our nations will continue to cooperate against terror and
trafficking in drugs. We will strengthen ties of trade and investment
between our nations. We'll work to improve educational and economic
opportunities for all Pakistanis, especially women and children. And my
Government stands ready to work with all parties on the subcontinent to
foster dialog to lower tensions and resolve outstanding issues.
The forces of history have accelerated the growth of friendship
between the United States and Pakistan. I believe the pages of history
will record that this friendship was hopeful and positive and will lead
to peace.
Mr. President.
President Musharraf. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for your
welcome and your kind words and sentiments expressed for me and for
Pakistan and for my Government.
I recall with great pleasure our very productive meeting last
November in New York. We have also spoken quite frequently on the
telephone since then. I value most highly this opportunity to exchange
views with you in person.
Our discussions this morning have been fruitful and constructive and
will continue over the lunch. Our meetings and discussions with senior
members of your administration continue as part of the ongoing dialog
which characterizes our close and cooperative relations.
For more than half a century, the relations between Pakistan and the
United States have been friendly, multifaceted, and enduring. They
represent an important element of stability in our region and beyond.
The criminal terrorist attacks of September 11th and the momentous
events since then have demonstrated the depth and strength of this
relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
Pakistan has a firm position of principle in the international
battle against terrorism. We reject terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations anywhere in the world. We will continue to fulfill our
responsibilities flowing from our commitment.
I am gratified that my vision of Pakistan as a dynamic, liberal,
progressive, peaceful, and genuinely democratic Muslim country and the
decision I announced on 12 January have evoked a supportive response in
the United States. I believe that Pakistan-United States relationship
must draw strength from our past relationship as we move to a new
century, a changed world and meet the challenges faced ahead.
I apprised the President of the massive and aggressive deployment of
Indian forces on our borders and the serious security situation that it
has created. The immediate return of Indian forces to peacetime
locations and the early resumption of dialog between Pakistan and India
is the way forward. We welcome the constructive role played by President
Bush and Secretary Powell in urging restraint and defusing military
tensions.
I am committed to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in
accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. All other differences
existing between Pakistan and India should also be settled through
peaceful means. We believe the United States can facilitate such a
solution and help South Asia turn a new leaf.
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The faithful implementation of the Bonn accord provides the best
guarantee for the future of Afghanistan. The interim administration must
be strengthened and its writ established over the entire country.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction must begin in Afghanistan. The Tokyo
donors conference has provided a forceful and timely impulse to this
process, which will also accelerate the return of millions of Afghan
refugees in Pakistan to their homeland.
Together, the United States and Pakistan can accomplish great
things. We have embarked on a long-term partnership. We look forward to
an era of robust collaboration. I look forward, Mr. President, to your
visit to Pakistan, where a warm and cordial welcome awaits you from the
people of Pakistan, who hold you in the highest of esteem.
I thank you, sir.
President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President; good job.
President Musharraf. Thank you.
Iraq/Daniel Pearl
Q. Mr. President, your advisers have long said that there needs to
be regime change in Iraq. Are you looking at military action to achieve
that goal? How could Saddam be toppled?
And to President Musharraf, are you confident that Mr. Pearl is
alive and will be released soon?
President Bush. Ron [Ron Fournier, Associated Press], I meant what I
said the other night, that there are some nations in the world which
develop weapons of mass destruction with one intention, and that is to
hold America hostage and/or harm Americans and/or our friends and
allies. And I also meant what I said, that I look forward to working
with the world to bring pressure on those nations to change their
behavior. But make no mistake about it, if we need to, we will take
necessary action to defend the American people.
And I think that statement was clear enough for Iraq to hear me, and
I will reserve whatever options I have. I'll keep them close to my vest.
President--or Saddam Hussein needs to
understand I'm serious about defending our country.
I think one of the worst things that can happen in the world is
terrorist organizations mating up with nations which have had a bad
history and nations which develop weapons of mass destruction. It would
be devastating for those of us who fight for freedom. And therefore, we,
the free world, are going to--must make it clear to these nations
they've got a choice to make. And I'll keep all options available if
they don't make the choice.
Q. Mr. President, Mr. President----
President Bush. Here's what's going to happen. Hold on for a second,
please. Hold on for a second. These two press people are going to
actually bring some order to this by calling upon individuals, and the
President is going to speak about Daniel Pearl.
President Musharraf. Your first part of the question, whether Mr.
Pearl is alive or dead--I am reasonably sure he's alive, and I really
very much hope--we all hope that he's alive. About getting him released,
well, let me say we are as close as possible to getting him released.
But I would like to emphasize here that I have taken certain steps
in Pakistan to crush extremism, religious intolerance in the society.
And therefore, I expected a certain degree of fallout of these steps.
But however, I would like to say we are not deterred. These kinds of
things were expected, and we will meet this challenge and try to resolve
whatever negative influences it creates in our society.
I very much hope that with all our efforts and the combined efforts
of all the intelligence agencies in Pakistan, we will be able to get Mr.
Pearl released.
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Kashmir
Q. Mr. President, it is evident that the Kashmir issue has not been
resolved through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. In the
beginning, U.S. even voted for Kashmir, the United States and U.N.
resolution. Now we hope that U.S. come forward for mediation and resolve
this issue, because this is the main issue between India and Pakistan.
President Bush. Well, our hope is that we can facilitate meaningful
dialog between India and Pakistan. The only way this issue is going to
be solved is if the Pakistani Government and the Indian Government sit
down and have serious, meaningful dialog to resolve this issue. And you
heard the President of Pakistan say his hope is that there's a peaceful
resolution. That's our hope, as well. And so the best thing our
Government can do is to encourage there to be a--to come to the table
and start to have meaningful, real dialog. And that's what we'll
continue to press for.
Campaign Finance Reform
Q. On campaign finance reform, sir, are Republican----
President Bush. Is this to the Pakistani President, or me?
[Laughter]
Q. For you, sir. On campaign finance reform, are Republican
operatives trying to kill the bill? And will you sign Shays-Meehan if it
gets to your desk?
President Bush. Well, I want to sign a bill that improves the
system. And it seems like to me that if they get a bill out of the House
of Representatives that improves the system, it ought to be in effect
immediately. But we'll see what comes my way. And I would look at it
very carefully and give it a good look.
Q. What about the Republicans--are they trying to kill the bill,
working for the RNC?
President Bush. I've talked to many Republicans that are trying to
improve the system, as well. And again, I repeat--I understand there's a
chance to amend the bill that says, if it improves the system, let's
have it in effect this year. And I support that. I think it makes sense.
But I'll take a good look at it. It's making its way through the system,
and I'll give it a good look.
Pakistan-U.S. Relations
Q. President Bush, you talked about history----
President Bush. Talked about--excuse me?
Q. You talked about history----
President Bush. Oh, history, yes. Getting a little hard of hearing.
Q. And history shows that the U.S. dumped Pakistan after the Afghan
war in 1980. So a common Pakistani wants to know whether the U.S. will
repeat the same history again, once again. And secondly, how do you plan
to help Pakistan, the modernization of Pakistan in its struggle of
survival against mighty and militarized India?
President Bush. Well, that's a very legitimate question. And it's--
one of the reasons why President Musharraf and I are spending time
together is, he has got to be confident in me and my Government
willingness to stay supportive of Pakistan. I think one of the things,
in order for us to have a positive relationship, is that he realizes
that when we say we're committed, we're committed. And we're committed
to peace in the region. We're committed to fighting terror.
The President made a tough decision and a strong decision. It's not
only a decision about fighting terror; it's a decision for the direction
of his country. And we support that strongly.
So I can understand why some in Pakistan are saying, ``Well, oh,
this is just a short-term dance.'' But so long as we share the same
ideals and values and common objectives, we'll work with Pakistan. And
there are ways to help. The President is going to go see Secretary
Rumsfeld today. We have--he negotiated
and we willingly supported a strong aid package in the '02
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budget. We're now discussing help in the '03 budget. We want to help
facilitate the President's concerns about a debt burden on Pakistan. We
want to talk about trade matters. We want to help him achieve his vision
of elevating the average citizen by giving them a chance and a hopeful
opportunity for life.
And so, I would suggest that people in Pakistan remember to think
about the future and not dwell in the past. That's what the President
has done with his vision, and I am proud to call him friend.
I want to remind people from Pakistan that I didn't mention many
world leaders in my State of the Union. But I mentioned President
Musharraf, for a reason. And hopefully, that's an indication of my
sincerity of developing a strong and meaningful relationship.
Education Reform in Pakistan
Q. Mr. Bush and Mr. Musharraf, should secular schools be the
standard in Islamic communities in Pakistan to prevent jihads and other
terrorists attacks like 9/11?
President Bush. Let me first--and I'd like the President to speak on
this, basically on the madrasa school issue in Pakistan. One of the
things that most impressed me about President Musharraf, that gives me
confidence in his vision, is that the last time we met in New York City,
we spent a fair amount of time talking about education reform. And the
President has placed a very intriguing and very interesting woman in charge of the education system in Pakistan. She
used to work in rural areas, a rural province of the country. He's
elevated her to Cabinet position because she's a reformer. She
understands the modern world requires an education system that trains
children in basic sciences and reading and math and the history of
Pakistan.
And the President laid out to me a vision, which he can share with
you, about how to encourage madrasas to adopt a curriculum that will
actually--will work and will provide a workforce, a trained workforce,
and will give people hope.
And so our Government is committed to working with the Pakistani
Government on education reform. We had a--as I understand that of the
$600 million, part of the aid package last year, 100 million of those
dollars have gone into education reform. The President will make the
decision as to how best to use that. There's 35 million--or 34 million
additional dollars this year that will go help on education reform.
I shared with him my passion about education reform here in America,
and I want to applaud him for making a visionary statement about
education. He knows what I know: An educated child is one much more
likely to be able to realize dreams and to be a productive citizen.
So, April [April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks], I think--let
the President speak to this issue, if you don't mind.
President Musharraf. Thank you. We are involved in Pakistan, as I
laid out in the 12 January speech, in a jihad--jihad-e-akbar, which I
call a greater jihad, which is in our teaching in Islam, a jihad against
illiteracy, a jihad against poverty, backwardness, hunger. This is the
jihad that we are engaged now and we have initiated.
Now, within this jihad, education forms a focal area. And since the
President wants me to focus particularly on madrasa, in education we are
taking three areas of education. One is the madrasa education; the
second is the primary and secondary education; and the third is higher
education. I would just like to focus on the madrasa education. We have
formulated strategies in each one of these three areas.
Madrasas, we must understand, are basically--there are about 600,000
to 800,000 students here in madrasas. Now, the positive aspect of the
madrasa--which I did lay out in my speech also; I would like to
highlight for everyone to hear--is that they are a welfare. They have a
welfare and humanitarian aspect to them. They feed and house the poorest
of the poor
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children. So this is the positive aspect of their providing free board
and lodge to the poorest of the poor.
Now, the weaknesses of some of the madrasas only teaching
religious--giving religious education to the children has to be removed.
And the children in these madrasas need to be brought into the
mainstream of life. And that is what we are doing.
We have asked the madrasas to introduce four subjects, and these are
science, English, Pakistan studies, and mathematics. Now, with these
four subjects introduced, we have also created a board for them to take
their examinations from. And once they take their examinations through
these boards, it will make them eligible to transfer to any other
college or university, if I want to give them a scholarship and take
them there, or to get them a job anywhere, in a banking area or in the
military or anywhere, instead of focusing only into the religious field.
So this is the strategy that we have adopted to get these children
into the mainstream of life in Pakistan. So the basic idea is, utilize
their strength, the strength of their giving free board and lodge to
such a vast population of the poorest of the poor, and eradicate their
weakness so that they are drawn into the mainstream of life in Pakistan.
This is the strategy we are following.
U.S. Treatment of Pakistanis
Q. My question is for President Bush. President, you know----
President Bush. Why am I not surprised? [Laughter]
Q. Almost more than 700,000 Pakistanis are based in the United
States.
President Bush. Say that again? I'm sorry.
Q. Almost more than 700,000 Pakistanis are based in the United
States.
President Bush. Right, right.
Q. But after September 11th, FBI and different law enforcing
agencies, they made a major crackdown against different communities. And
Pakistani community has especially been targeted by law enforcing
agencies, and hundreds of Pakistanis are in different detention centers.
And there is a sense in the community they are treating them like a
terrorist. And you know, very wrong messages are delivered back to
Pakistan that in the United States, Pakistanis are treated like a
terrorists. And on the other side, in Pakistan, is supporting all the
way the United States in the war against terrorism.
President Bush. Yes.
Q. And the same White House--Mexican President, Mr. Fox, visited
White House, and you promised that you will consider to give guest
worker status to illegal Mexicans, 3.5 million. So keeping in, you know,
the Pakistani--what they have done for United States, would you be kind
enough to consider a legal status for a small number of illegal
Pakistanis who are in process of legalization?
President Bush. Well, first, we need to reform our INS. There's no
question the paperwork delays are way too long. It's frustrating for
people. So for those who are amazed at the fact that paperwork can stay
in a process for such a period of time, I can understand that.
Secondly, I've always believed that we ought to encourage a willing
employee and a willing employer to come together. And as we discuss
immigration law, that ought to be an aspect of the law.
And finally, this great Nation is a nation that will protect
ourselves; we're still under threat. But we treat people with ultimate
respect. I mean, people in this country have got a chance to get
attorneys at law to help them. People are not being--we never said,
let's go single out a particular group of citizens. Let's protect
America. If we get any kind of lead or any kind of hint about anything
that is--could lead to an attack, we're going to give people a chance to
share information to protect America. That makes sense, if you're living
here and
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you care about the country, that you ought to be given a chance to
participate.
So I don't know who, specifically, you're referring to, but people
are being treated incredibly humanely here--and in Guantanamo Bay, by
the way. Perhaps you're referring to maybe some citizens there. I will
just assure you, like I've assured the President, that people are
getting fantastic health care, much better health care today in
Guantanamo Bay than they were getting in Afghanistan, I can assure you.
And so our country is mindful of the need to respect people's
rights. But I want to assure you, we will do, within our power, within
the Constitution of the United States, what it takes to defend the
American people. My most important job is to protect innocent Americans,
and this is exactly what I'm going to do.
Listen, thank you all very much.
Note: The President's news conference began at 11:34 a.m. in the Cross
Hall at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam
Hussein of Iraq and Minister for Education Zubeda Jalal of Pakistan. A
reporter referred to President Vicente Fox of Mexico. President
Musharraf referred to the Bonn Agreement, the December 5, 2001,
Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-
establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, reached at a United
Nations-sponsored meeting of Afghan representatives, which established
the Interim Afghan Administration; and the Tokyo donors conference, the
January 20-21 meeting of 61 nations which pledged $4.5 billion for the
reconstruction of Afghanistan.