    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 38 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
    [Pages 1653-1658]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With President Pervez Musharraf of
    Pakistan

    September 22, 2006

        President Bush. Thank you very much. Please be seated. Laura and I
    appreciate the opportunity to welcome President and Mrs. Musharraf here
    to Washington. We remember fondly, Mr. President, your great hospitality
    in Pakistan, and we remember the importance of that visit. It
    reconfirmed our friendship, gave you and me a chance to discuss
    important issues. And there's no more important issue than defending our
    peoples.
        This President is a strong defender of freedom and the people of
    Pakistan, and I appreciate your leadership.
        President Musharraf. Thank you very much.
        President Bush. He understands that we are in a struggle against
    extremists who will use terror as a weapon. He understands it just about
    as good as anybody in the world--after all, they've tried to take his
    life. These extremists who can't stand the thought of a moderate leader
    leading an important country like Pakistan want to kill the President.
    That should say things to the people of Pakistan and the people of
    America--that because he has been a strong, forceful leader, he has
    become a target of those who can't stand the thought of moderation
    prevailing.
        I admire your leadership. I admire your courage. And I thank you
    very much for working on common strategies to protect our respective
    peoples.

    [[Page 1654]]

        We had a good discussion here today. We talked about how our
    intelligence cooperation can continue. I want to remind the people of
    Pakistan and the people of America that because of the good work of our
    intelligence forces and Pakistani intelligence forces, as we helped
    people in the United Kingdom, we prevented the loss of innocent life.
    That kind of cooperation is necessary in a world in which extremists and
    radicals are willing to kill to try to achieve political objectives.
        We talked about the earthquake recovery, and our Nation was proud to
    support you, Mr. President, because we care when we see people
    suffering. And I was briefed by you and your administration when I was
    there, and I was impressed by the great organization and compassion
    shown for the Pakistani people by your Government. I hope all is going
    well, particularly for those who suffered mightily.
        We talked about economic development and the need to move forward on
    a reconstruction opportunity zones as well as a bilateral investment
    treaty. In other words, our relationship is more than just helping to
    secure our respective homelands. Ours is a relationship that recognizes
    that through economic prosperity, people can embetter themselves.
        We had a very interesting briefing on the federally administered
    tribal areas. The governor of the areas are with us here, and he briefed
    me and members of my national security team on the strategy to
    strengthen governance and to promote economic development.
        We talked about education. The first time I ever met President
    Musharraf, he talked about the need to make sure that school systems in
    Pakistan worked well. I was impressed then and I'm impressed now by your
    commitment to an education system that prepares students for the--and
    gives students the skills necessary to compete in a global economy.
        We talked about democracy. The last time I was with the President,
    he assured me and assured the people that were listening to the news
    conference that there would be free and fair elections in Pakistan in
    2007. He renewed that commitment, because he understands that the best
    way to defeat radicalism and extremism is to give people a chance to
    participate in the political process of a nation.
        We talked about India in relations--and the President's relations
    with India. I was pleased to see that in Havana Prime Minister Singh and
    President Musharraf had another discussion. I think it's very important
    that the issue of Kashmir move forward and be resolved peacefully. And I
    appreciate your efforts, Mr. President.
        We talked, of course, about Afghanistan. And President Musharraf and
    President Karzai and I will have dinner right here in the White House
    next week. And it's going to be an important discussion. It's going to
    be an important discussion because one of the most important avenues for
    peace is for Afghanistan to succeed. And it's in our mutual interests
    that we work together to help that country that's been devastated by war
    succeed. And so I'm looking forward to our trilateral discussion, Mr.
    President. It's going to be a good one, and it's going to be an
    interesting one. And it's an important discussion.
        All in all, we've had yet another good meeting between people who
    are able to speak frankly with each other and people who share the
    common desire for our people to live in security and peace.
        Welcome.
        President Musharraf. Thank you very much. I would like to, first of
    all, express my gratitude and also on behalf of my entire delegation for
    the warmth and hospitality that we have received and many courtesies
    that are being extended to us since our arrival in the United States.
        I had an excellent meeting with President Bush. We, first of all,
    reinforced our trust and confidence in each other. I trust President
    Bush, and I have total confidence in him that he desires well for
    Pakistan and for our region. And I trust him also that he's trying to do
    his best for bringing peace to the world. And I trust him also that he's
    trying to resolve the core issue of the Palestinian dispute.
        We discussed the entire gambit of relations bilaterally between the
    United States and Pakistan and also in our region and on

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    international issues. Bilaterally, we reinforced our desire to have this
    relationship on a long-term basis, broad-based, and a strategic
    relationship. When we are talking of broad-based, whatever the President
    has said, it involves all aspects which we discussed. It has its
    political and diplomatic aspects, which we reinforced, and then our
    desire to fight terrorism and succeed against terrorism.
        Other than that issue, in the social sector, on the economy, how
    whatever assistance is being given to us, whatever assistance we
    require, our requests on that--especially in the field of trade and
    investment, which are the main areas which we require assistance in--
    otherwise, on a broad-based level, assistance in the education and
    health sector, on the defense side, the F-16 deals. All this was
    discussed.
        On the regional issues, on the international plain, we did discuss
    the core issue of the Palestinian dispute, which needs to be resolved,
    and being at the core. And I am extremely glad that the President has a
    desire and a will to resolve this Palestinian dispute. I wish him very
    well because that lies at the heart of all problems, even at the heart
    of terrorism and extremism.
        On the regional side, in our region, we also discussed the
    rapprochement going on between Pakistan and India. And I proudly told
    the President that we had--I had an excellent meeting with Prime
    Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana. And it was a step forward towards
    resolution of disputes between India and Pakistan. I did tell him on the
    way forward that we are moving on the Kashmir dispute especially.
        Coming on the other side, we had an in-depth discussion on what is
    happening in Afghanistan and our tribal agency. They are--I explained to
    him whatever we are doing in the form of the peace treaty that we have
    just signed through a grand jirga, which is an assembly of elders.
        This treaty is not to deal with the Taliban; it is actually to fight
    the Taliban. The misperception in the media, I did clarify to the
    President. And may I very briefly say--and what I explained to the
    President--that this is a holistic approach that we are taking to
    fighting terrorism in Pakistan, in the tribal agencies of Pakistan. This
    is a political site of the holistic strategy--the holistic strategy
    being the military arm being used, a political element, an
    administrative element, and a reconstruction element.
        So we want to move on all these aspects forward, confining myself to
    this deal. This deal is not at all with the Taliban; as I said, this is
    against the Taliban, actually. This deal is with the tribal elders of
    north Waziristan agency. And the deal has three bottom lines which we
    fixed for ourselves. And this is very important, which I explained to
    the President.
        Number one: There will be no Al Qaida activity in our tribal agency
    or across the border in Afghanistan. There will be no Taliban activity
    in our tribal agency or across in Afghanistan. There will be no
    Talibanization, which is an obscurantic thoughts or way of life--no
    Talibanization. So all these three have been agreed by the tribal elders
    who signed that deal. And when they signed the deal, they are
    honorbound, and they have a very strict honor code to not only abide by
    it but also that whoever violates it they'll move against them.
        So this is, in brief, the deal which I explained to the President.
    And I know that he's satisfied with that deal. And maybe this shows the
    light or the way forward for bringing peace to the region.
        So this is what we discussed holistically. I would like to conclude
    by saying we had a total understanding of views between President Bush
    and myself. And as I said, we reinforced our trust and confidence in
    each other. Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Good job.
        Two questions apiece. Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated Press].

    Pakistan's Role in the War on Terror

        Q. Mr. President, after 9/11, would the United States have actually
    attacked Pakistan if President Musharraf had not agreed to cooperate
    with the war on terrorism? He says that the United States was
    threatening to bomb his country back into the Stone Age.
        And, President Musharraf, would Pakistan have given up its backing
    of the Taliban if this threat had not come from Armitage?

    [[Page 1656]]

        President Bush. First, let me--she's asking about the Armitage
    thing. The first I've heard of this was when I read it in the newspaper
    today. You know, I was--I guess I was taken aback by the harshness of
    the words.
        All I can tell you is, is that shortly after 9/11, Secretary Colin
    Powell came in and said, ``President Musharraf understands the stakes,
    and he wants to join and help rout out an enemy that has come and killed
    3,000 of our citizens.'' As a matter of fact, my recollection was that
    one of the first leaders to step up and say that the stakes have
    changed, that attack on America that killed 3,000 of the citizens needs
    to be dealt with firmly, was the President. And if I'm not mistaken,
    Colin told us that, if not the night of September the 11th, shortly
    thereafter. Now, I need to make sure I get my facts straight, but it was
    soon.
        I don't know of any conversation that was reported in the newspaper
    like that. I just don't know about it.
        President Musharraf. I would like to--I am launching my book on the
    25th, and I am honorbound to Simon and Schuster not to comment on the
    book before that day. [Laughter]
        President Bush. In other words, buy the book, is what he's saying.
    [Laughter]

    Islam/Religious Freedom

        Q. My question is for the U.S. President. Your Excellency, President
    Musharraf has issued a call for building bridges and promoting
    interfaith harmony between the West and the Islamic world, which is in
    upheaval and in complete turmoil. So your comments of Islamic fascists
    and then the comments of the Pope have inflamed the Islamic world. And
    my question is that--would you take the leading role, along with
    President Musharraf, to build these bridges and promote interfaith
    harmony to avert any wrong notion of class of civilizations, sir?
        President Bush. I appreciate the President's leadership in promoting
    harmony. There is unbelievable propaganda in the Middle East these days
    that try to inflame passion. The propagandists are attempting to create
    conditions where terror is justified. And so at my speech at the United
    Nations, I stood up and said loud and clear, America respects Islam. And
    we do. We don't respect people who kill in the name of Islam to achieve
    political objectives, like the terrorists do.
        As a matter of fact, these extremists exploit propaganda in order to
    justify their behavior. All of us need to step up and talk about a world
    in which we respect each other's religions. As a matter of fact, it's
    very important for Muslims around the world to know, there's a lot of
    Muslims living at peace here in the United States. They are proud
    Americans, and they're equal to me as a citizen. We respect their
    religions.
        I repeat to you, however, that the free world and the moderate world
    must stand up to these extremists and not let them spread their hateful
    propaganda, not let them try to incite people to acts of violence,
    because these extremists are not only against Western people, they're
    also against moderate people. And the President is reaching out to help
    understand--the world to understand that the Muslim religion is a
    peaceful religion--is very important. And we can help, and we will help.
        One way we can help is to work with the Palestinians and the
    Israelis to achieve peace. I'm the first President ever to have
    articulated a two-state solution. I believe a Palestinian state, as a
    democracy living side by side with Israel, will yield the peace. What's
    important is for people to understand that in order to have that peace
    and that Palestinian state, people have got to recognize Israel's right
    to exist in order for this to happen. You can't ask people to negotiate
    with people who say you shouldn't exist.
        We will continue to give aid to people who suffer. We didn't ask the
    question whether--you know, what was the nature of the religion of the
    people who suffered in Pakistan when we spent a half a billion dollars
    to help this President. We said, they're suffering, and we want to help.
    And so we will continue to outreach.
        It's important, however, for people in the Middle East to reject the
    extremist propaganda that is spreading, in many cases, absolute lies
    about the intentions of the United States. They love to say this is a
    war against Islam; I can't think of anything more false. These are
    moderate, reasonable people who

    [[Page 1657]]

    reject extremism in order for there to be peace. And so I'll work hard
    to do my part. Thank you for that question.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Usama bin Laden/Pakistan-U.S. Cooperation in the War on Terror

        Q. Thank you, sir. There's been a back-and-forth this week over
    whether the U.S. needs permission to strike inside Pakistan if Usama bin
    Laden is located. Could each of you give your position on that? And did
    you--are you satisfied with his assurances on the tribal deal?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, I appreciate the briefing on the
    tribal deal. When the President looks me in the eye and says, ``The
    tribal deal is intended to reject the Talibanization of the people and
    that there won't be a Taliban and won't be Al Qaida,'' I believe him,
    you know. This is a person with whom I've now had close working
    relationships for 5\1/2\ years. And when he says, ``If we find--when we
    find Usama bin Laden, he will be brought to justice,'' I believe him.
    And we'll let the tactics speak for themselves after it happens.
        We're on the hunt together. It's in the President's interest that Al
    Qaida be brought to justice, and it's in our interest. And we
    collaborate and we strategize and we talk a lot about how best to do
    this.
        Q. So you do have permission to go inside Pakistan?
        President Bush. All I can tell you is, is that when Usama bin Laden
    is found, he will be brought to justice. And that's what we've
    continually discussed.
        President Musharraf. May I add?
        President Bush. Yes, please.
        President Musharraf. I think, as the President said, we are on the
    hunt together against these people. Now why are we bothering--or how
    to--the semantics of the tactics of how to deal with the situation? We
    will deal with it. We are on the hunt together. You want the person--if
    at all we confront him, if at all we find out his location, we are quite
    clear what to do.
        But let's not get involved in how it ought to be done, by whom it
    ought to be done. There's total coordination at the intelligence level
    between the two forces. There's coordination at the operational level,
    at the strategic level, even at the tactical level. So therefore, we are
    working together, and when the situation arises, we need to pick the
    right decision to strike. That's how I----
        President Bush. You probably don't want to let them know what we're
    thinking about anyway, do we?
        President Musharraf. And may I also say that we need to have--ladies
    and gentlemen here, we have the pieces of--a relationship is trust and
    confidence. Now, if we don't have that trust and confidence in each
    other, and we think that we are bluffing each other--I don't think
    that's a good way of moving forward, anyway.

    Kashmir/Situation in the Middle East

        Q. Mr. President, I have two-part question. And first, I must--
    [inaudible]--the remarks which you gave at the outset about President
    Musharraf. And second is, Mr. President, in Pakistan, we cherish the
    idea of having strategic and long partnership with United States of
    America. But we found that there is--a discriminate reality is being
    followed by your great country pertaining to the--[inaudible]--of the
    nuclear technology for the peaceful purpose. Pakistan needs energy, and
    we have been denied of that. Could you ensure us that this
    discrimination will come to an end after this great meeting with
    President Musharraf?
        And the second part of my question, Mr. President, is that President
    Musharraf has been asking resolution of the problem of Palestine and
    Kashmir for the sustainable peace in the world, especially in this part
    of the world. Aren't you going to contemplate--are you contemplating
    some step to take, some initiative to resolve these two problems? And
    question for Mr. President is, is how far did----
        President Musharraf. Three in one. [Laughter]
        President Bush. If I ask him--then I'll remember yours.
        Q. ----talk about these discussions with President Bush and the
    agenda, the item for which you are going to take up with the President
    of the United States, how far have you been successful? Thank you, sirs.

    [[Page 1658]]

        President Bush. Man, you represented the entire press corps there;
    that's good. [Laughter] We talked about energy, and we talked about our
    need to work through the recent history that we've had together on
    dealing with proliferation matters.
        Secondly, in terms of Kashmir and Palestine, Kashmir issue will be
    solved when two leaders decide to solve it. And we want to help. The
    United States can't force nations to reach an agreement just because we
    want there to be an agreement. Lasting agreements occur when leaders of
    nations say, ``Let's get the past behind us, and let's move forward.''
        I am encouraged by the meetings that the President and the Prime
    Minister of India have had. It is an indication that there is desire at
    the leadership level to solve this long-standing problem.
        Leadership is also going to be required between Israel and
    Palestine. We, of course, can help and will help. But it's important for
    you to understand that we cannot impose peace. We can help create the
    conditions for peace to occur. We can lay out vision. We can talk to
    world leaders, and we do. We can provide aid to help institutional
    building so that a democracy can flourish.
        But, ultimately, peace, long-standing peace depends upon the will of
    leaders. I'm impressed by this President's will to get something done in
    Kashmir. He and I have talked about this issue in the past. He has said
    he was going to reach out to the Prime Minister of India, and he has.
    And our hope is that this process continues forward.
        I asked the President, just like I would ask the Prime Minister of
    India, what can we do to help. What would you like the United States to
    do to facilitate an agreement? Would you like us to get out of the way?
    Would you like us not to show up? Would you like us to be actively
    involved? How can we help you, if you so desire, achieve peace? And
    that's the role of the United States, as far as I'm concerned.
        President Musharraf. Thank you. I think I've already answered. We've
    had far-reaching discussion encompassing bilateral issues, regional, and
    international. I think we have general consensus on all issues.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Good job.
        President Musharraf. Thank you.
        President Bush. Buy the book. [Laughter]

    Note: The President's news conference began at 10:21 a.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Sehba Musharraf,
    wife of President Musharraf; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India;
    President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; and former Deputy Secretary of
    State Richard L. Armitage.