[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 46 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Pages 1645-1646]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement for the Visit of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to 
New York

November 10, 2001

    President George W. Bush and President Pervez Musharraf met in New 
York today and reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the bilateral 
relationship between Pakistan and the United States. The two Presidents 
expressed the conviction that the global coalition against terrorism is 
essential for the elimination of the Taliban regime and the Al-Qaida 
network and those who harbor them. President Musharraf welcomed the 
clear commitments expressed by President Bush to continued active United 
States engagement in Pakistan and the entire South Asian sub-continent.
    President Bush and President Musharraf reaffirmed the benefits of 50 
years of friendship and close cooperation between Pakistan and the 
United States and recalled the pivotal role of the Pakistan-U.S. 
alliance in the triumph of the free world at the end of the cold war. 
They welcomed the revival of this longstanding partnership and expressed 
their conviction that it would constitute a vital element in the 
construction of a durable structure of peace, stability, economic growth 
and enhanced prosperity at the regional and global level. They also held 
wide-ranging discussions on the current anti-terrorism campaign and 
exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues.
    President Musharraf strongly condemned the terrorist attacks of 
September 11 and conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the people and 
government of Pakistan to the people and government of the United 
States. President Bush recognized Pakistan's role as a front-line state 
in the global campaign against terrorism and expressed gratitude for 
Pakistan's vital support in the international campaign. Both leaders 
agreed to continue their ongoing excellent cooperation and to pursue a 
coherent and coordinated diplomatic, political, military, economic, 
financial and humanitarian strategy to eliminate terrorism.
    President Bush stressed that the United States and Pakistan are 
friends of long-standing and that Pakistan is a great Islamic nation. He 
emphasized that the United States has great respect for Islam and noted 
the fast growth of the Islamic community in America. President Bush 
stated that our campaign is against those who pervert a great religion 
in the service of evil. President Bush and President Musharraf also 
discussed means of easing the plight of the Afghan refugees. President 
Bush recognized the leading role that Pakistan has played in receiving 
and caring for Afghan refugees and emphasized that the United States is 
the largest foreign donor of humanitarian aid. Even tonight, using our 
military resources, United States planes are dropping badly needed food 
supplies to the Afghan people.
    The two presidents agreed that the international community will have 
to provide sizeable and sustained resources for the reconstruction of 
Afghanistan. They also affirmed their support for the efforts of the 
United Nations, Secretary General Annan, and Special Envoy Brahimi. They 
agreed that peace and stability in Afghanistan can be achieved through 
the institution of a broad-based, multi-ethnic, representative 
government, established through consensus among Afghans, and evolved 
under the auspices of the United Nations. They also acknowledged that 
Afghanistan should enjoy friendly relations with all its neighbors and 
be a link between Central and South Asia, and free from the scourge of 
terrorism and drugs.
    President Musharraf welcomed President Bush's decision to lift a 
number of sanctions

[[Page 1646]]

that allow the resumption of cooperation with Pakistan. They agreed that 
the bilateral relationship is built on the shared interests and values 
of the American and Pakistani peoples. President Bush welcomed the 
efforts that the Pakistani citizens are making to support the coalition 
against terrorism. Affirming their commitment to Pakistan's economic 
stabilization and revival program, President Bush pledged to promote 
economic assistance to Pakistan.
    President Bush confirmed that he will extend support to enable 
Pakistan to respond to the economic challenges it confronts. The two 
presidents discussed ways to make good on the enormous potential for 
increased trade and investment between Pakistan and the United States 
and agreed to enter into extensive talks regarding economic issues. 
President Bush affirmed that the United States is committed to working 
with the international financial institutions to provide additional 
support for Pakistan. Financial assistance, debt relief, greater trade 
and investment opportunities, and sound Pakistani economic policies 
should assist Pakistan in its efforts to spur sustainable economic 
growth. Additionally, President Bush undertook to consider ways to 
respond to Pakistan's market access expectations.
    President Bush and President Musharraf discussed a broad range of 
regional security issues. Both underscored the importance of Pakistan to 
have a successful transition to democracy in 2002. President Bush and 
President Musharraf agreed to continue and expand defense consultations. 
President Bush welcomed President Musharraf's commitment to hold 
elections by October 2002 and to build a stable, democratic and 
prosperous Pakistan, in which the rights of all Pakistanis are fully 
protected.
    President Bush and President Musharraf expressed shared concern 
about the threat to global stability posed by the proliferation of 
ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. They agreed on the 
need for a comprehensive approach to counter these threats, including 
enhanced non-proliferation measures at the global and regional level. 
President Musharraf looked forward to further discussions with the 
United States on these issues.
    The two leaders discussed ways to promote stability in South Asia. 
President Bush praised President Musharraf's recent call to Prime 
Minister Vajpayee of India. President Bush and President Musharraf 
agreed that India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue through 
diplomacy and dialogue in mutually acceptable ways that take into 
account the wishes of the people of Kashmir.
    President Bush and President Musharraf resolved to work together 
closely to expand bilateral and regional trade. They agreed that 
launching a new global trade round in Doha is a top priority for both 
nations. They confirmed their commitment to achieve open markets in 
South Asia, including using the South Asian Association for Regional 
Cooperation's (SAARC) full potential more effectively. The two leaders 
agreed that the United States will continue to take steps to strengthen 
Pakistan's economy. They agreed that the United States and Pakistan can 
accomplish great things together and that the American and Pakistani 
people look forward to building peace, stability and prosperity, both in 
South Asia and around the world.

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