'We Oppose Terrorism Everywhere'

White House Press Briefing, December 19

Q: A strong consensus has been building up in India tostrike terrorist camps in Pakistan, in the occupied Kashmir.  Not onPakistan -- attack on Pakistan, but on the terrorists in Pakistan.  Alsohere, Indian Americans held a conference yesterday.  My question is herethat if the President is asking General Musharraf like he asked Yasser Arafat toshut down and close down all the terrorist camps in Pakistan.  Because --and there was a delegation from Israeli lawmakers in Delhi.  And what theysaid is, time has come for the United States, India and Israel to get togetherand fight terrorism, because there's not a single one democracy between NewDelhi and Jerusalem.

Ari Fleischer:  The President has made it plain that he and the UnitedStates, we oppose terrorism everywhere.  There are no good terrorists,there are no bad terrorists.  And that's why the President has been incommunication with the government of Pakistan at the highest levels, to urgethem to make certain that militant groups are not able to engage in terroristacts.

White House Press Briefing, December 18

Q: What is the United States doing topressure Pakistan into turning over the Taliban and al Qaeda forces that areslipping into Pakistan? And are the al Qaeda fighters who are in custody nowconsidered POWs? And what is the United States learning from theirinterrogations?

Ari Fleischer: Much of this was addressed by Secretary Rumsfeld earlier andby Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz in their briefing, so I'd refer you to what theysaid on this topic.

Q But is President Bush personally doing anything to put pressure on Pakistanto turn over Taliban and al Qaeda --

Ari Fleischer: Well, the cooperation with Pakistan has been superb. Pakistanhas done a very good job in helping to fight the war against terrorism, andcontinues to do so.

Q What is the U.S.doing to ease tensions between Pakistan and India?

Ari Fleischer:On various levels of the government, the President and his staff have been intouch with leaders of both India and Pakistan. In the war on terrorism, theUnited States and India are very close allies. And in the war on terrorism, theUnited States and Pakistan are very close allies.

Indian authorities are continuing their investigation into who wasresponsible for the brutal attack on their parliament, an attack that has beencondemned by the President. The President has made it clear that the UnitedStates opposes terrorism everywhere. And as the global campaign continues, thePresident urges all who support that effort to assist India, as India deals withthat problem.

Q Ari, did they specifically urge Pakistan, though, to investigate possibleterrorist groups inside their own country?

Ari Fleischer:The President has made it clear, and Secretary Powell has spoken with PresidentMusharraf, that it's important for Pakistan to curb the extremists. And what'simportant, from the President's point of view, for both India and Pakistan, isto fight terrorism, and to fight the terrorists who are trying to de-stabilizethe region. They have a common cause against terrorist enemies. This is not areason for India and Pakistan to take action against each other. This is a timefor India and Pakistan to take action against the terrorists.

White House Press Briefing, December 17

Q Ari, India, over the weekend,said that the terrorists who had been involved in the attack on Parliament hadtraining camps just over the border in Pakistan, and they used a variant of theBush doctrine that suggests that they should go after those camps. Obviously,you folks have been urging them not to retaliate harshly, but said they had aright of self-defense. Is it a fair invocation of the Bush doctrine in thiscase? And, if not, why not?

Ari Fleischer:Well, as you stated correctly, India has a legitimate right to self-defense. Andat the same time, the President counsels that this is a very difficult situationin the region and one that could spiral out of control. And so, therefore, heurges that both sides share information, work with each other, and take noaction that would in any way hinder the war against terrorism, to which bothIndia and Pakistan have committed themselves.

Q Has he spoken with either leaders since this happened?

Ari Fleischer:Yes, he spoke with Prime Minister Vajpayee the day of the attack.

Q I'm sorry, and with Musharraf?

Ari Fleischer:I don't believe he spoke directly with Mr. Musharraf.

Q Also, India claims that the attack on the new Parliament was similar to NewYork and Washington, same group and same -- they had connections with the same-- with ISI and with Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, and they are based now inPakistan, this group. Yesterday they changed the name when they heard that theU.S. State Department is planning to -- they ordered that they would not get --from the U.S. and all that.

Now, yesterday they change the name and, two, Pakistan's General Musharrafand the ISI knows this group. Now, my question is, is the President askingMusharraf to warn this group or arrest them, like they did in Israel, that thisgroup should be arrested? Like India already put Pakistan on alert and they'rewarning that they should be arrested, otherwise they will take action. 

Ari Fleischer:Well, the President again, no change from what I said to Mr. Sanger. TheIndians, as we understand it, have arrested two individuals that are suspectedin the attack, and the investigation is ongoing, being conducted by the Indiangovernment to bring to justice all those who were responsible for this. TheUnited States has offered its assistance to India and that offer stands ready

White House Press Briefing, December 13:

Q: And the second question is that India -- and this time the target was India'sparliament.  And Indian authorities blame the Taliban behind that attack. Now, do you think India should do the same thing that the Israelis aredoing?

Ari Fleischer:  Number one, let me just announce to you that PresidentBush this morning also called President Vajpayee of India -- I'm sorry, PrimeMinister Vajpayee of India, to condemn the attack and to express the condolencesof the American people through the Prime Minister to the families of those whowere killed, and to all the Indian people.  The President also offered theassistance of the FBI and of the State Department counterterrorist teams if sodesired.  And so I just want to make sure you were aware of that.

Q: The Taliban --

Ari Fleischer:  We have no indication of who is responsible.