[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 7 (Monday, February 18, 2002)]
[Pages 226-231]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 kidnapped American 
reporter Daniel Pearl. We spent a time today in the Oval Office 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

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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.
    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

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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.

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

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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 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.

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    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 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.

Pakistani-U.S. Residents

    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 you care about the country, that you ought to be given a chance 
to participate.

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    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. The President also 
referred to the Bonn Agreement, an agreement reached at a United Nations 
sponsored meeting of Afghan representatives on transitional political 
arrangements for the future of Afghanistan, which concluded December 5, 
2001, and led to the Interim Afghan Administration; and the Tokyo donors 
conference, January 20-21, 2002, a meeting of 61 nations which pledged 
$4.5 billion for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.