'We Share The Same Vision About Terror'

President Bush: Good evening.In our hour ofneed, just after the terrorist attacks on September the 11th, President Musharrafquickly condemned the evildoers. He's shown even greater courage andvision and leadership in the weeks since.

Our nations share an urgent mission, which is to stop and defeat terrorismwherever it may exist. That mission is not directed against those whopractice Islam. That mission is directed against evil people.

We discussed ways to accelerate our progress in Afghanistan against al Qaedaand the Taliban. We also discussed our humanitarian efforts to helpAfghans through the winter. And we spent time on the need to worktogether for long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan, once the Taliban no longerhold power.

Pakistan's efforts against terror are benefitting the entire world andlinking Pakistan more closely with the world. The United States wantsto help build these linkages. I've authorized a lifting of sanctions,and over $1 billion in U.S. support. I will also back debt relief forPakistan.

I want to thank Senators Grassley and Baucus of our United States Congressfor introducing legislation that will improve market access in the United Statesto Pakistan's products.

I'm pleased that the President is committed to restore democracy in Pakistan.Pakistanis a strong ally; President Musharraf is a strong leader, and the world isdeeply appreciative for his leadership.

Mr. President.

General Musharraf: Thank you very much, Mr. President. It'smy pleasure to be talking to all of you. Let me, first of all, saythat I, myself, my government, and the people of Pakistan condemn in thestrongest terms the wanton act of terrorism on the 11th of September against theUnited States. We condole with all the grieved.

Having said that, let me right away say that Pakistan has taken theconsidered decision to be a part of the coalition, to be with the United States,to fight terrorism in all its forms wherever it exists. And let mealso assure the President that Pakistan will remain committed to this -- to thefight against terrorism.

We also -- or I also see now the start of a dawn of a new era of arelationship between Pakistan and the United States. Pakistan willhope for a very sustainable and longstanding futuristic relationship developingbetween Pakistan and the United States; a relationship which we always have hadin the past.

Having said that, let me say that I had very fruitful discussions with thePresident on Afghanistan and on the method of fighting terrorism. OnAfghanistan, we have unanimity of views on a political dispensation which needsto be encouraged through the people of Afghanistan, to be brought intoAfghanistan. And we have, in addition, a humanitarian relief packagethat needs to be worked out. We have total unanimity of views onthese.

Lastly, I did apprise the President on Pakistan's concerns and Pakistan'sdifficulties from the fallout of whatever is happening in our region. Andlet me very gladly say that the President showed total concern for it and alsoassured us, assured Pakistan to help out in the maximum possible way. Iremain extremely grateful to the President for his concern for Pakistan and forhis desire to assist Pakistan through the difficulties that we are facing at themoment.

Thank you very much.

President Bush: The President has agreed to take somequestions, and so have I. Both of us will take two questions fromeach side, starting with Mr. Fournier of Associated Press.

Q: Thank you, sir. I'd liketo ask both of you about the same topic. Secretary Powell suggestedyesterday that the Northern Alliance shouldn't take control of Kabul. Doesthat mean you would discourage them from seizing the capital? Andplease explain what he meant when he said that Kabul should become an open cityand use post-World War II Berlin as an example.

And to you, Mr. President, why don't you think Kabul should be taken by theNorthern Alliance?

President Bush: Well, I think we share a common view thatin order for there to be a country that is stable and peaceful on this goodleader's western border, that any power arrangement must be shared with thedifferent tribes within Afghanistan. And a key signal of that will behow the city of Kabul is treated. We will encourage our friends tohead south, across the Shamali Plains, but not into the city of Kabul, itself.Andwe believe we can accomplish our military missions by that strategy.

So it's a -- the Secretary -- I don't want to put words in the goodSecretary's mouth, but we believe a strategy that makes sense for the long runis one that is all encompassing. And a signal of that strategy willbe how the city of Kabul is treated.

General Musharraf:Well, I agree with the President totally. Why I have been recommending that Kabul should not beoccupied by the Northern Alliance basically is because of the past experiencethat we've had when the various ethnic groups were in hold of Kabul after theSoviets left. There was total atrocities, killings and mayhem within the city.AndI think if the Northern Alliance enter Afghanistan -- enters Kabul, we'll seethe same kind of atrocities being perpetuated against the people there, againstthe populace there, which needs to be avoided.

Q  Do you agree with that rationale, President Bush?

President Bush:I said one question, now you're going withthree. (Laughter.)

Why don't you call on somebody --

Q Mr. President --

Q Mr. President --

President Bush: Which one?(Laughter.)

Q This is for President Bush.I askmy President questions at home.President Bush, your government and-- the U.S. government in the past and currently has been proactively using theU.N. Security Council to solve problems in conflict areas.When willyou invoke the U.N. Security Council to intervene on the issue of Kashmir, whichis clearly an issue which is at the basis of conflict in South Asia?

President Bush: Well, we've had a very good discussion onthis subject, and I assured the President that my country will do what we can tobring parties together, to have good, meaningful discussions on the subject sothat we can come up with a solution.

Q And United Nations involvement in it, Mr.President?

President Bush: I think our involvement is exactly how Idescribed it to the President.

Q Mr. President, Osama bin Laden says healready has nuclear and chemical weapons.Do you believe him, andwhere do you think he would get them from?

President Bush: The only thing I know certain about him isthat he's evil. And I don't know what to believe about him, exceptthat he wants to hurt Americans. I suspect he now wants to hurt thepeople of Pakistan. And we're not going to let him. We will doeverything we can to stop him here at home, and we're doing everything we can tohunt him down and bring him to justice.

Those kind of statements he utters reinforces the coalition's efforts tobring him to justice, and that's exactly what's going to happen with Mr. Osamabin Laden -- all the more reason for us to pursue him diligently and to get him.Andthat's what we're going to do.

Q  It's Pakistan's turn now. (Laughter.)

President Bush: Fine by me. (Laughter.)

Q:  My question is addressed to President George Bush. Mr. President, United States of America time and again has saidthat it is against -- eradicate all sort of terrorism. My question toyou, Mr. President, is when are you going to deal with the question ofstate-sponsored terrorism? My question is in reference to the Kashmirsituation, first. And the other part of my question is, how do youview the personal contribution and role of Pakistan's leader, General Musharraf,in countering global terrorism? Thank you.

President Bush: Well, thank you very much. Mygovernment strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on October the 1st, stronglycondemned them, as did President Musharraf. He condemned thoseattacks, as well. We share the same vision about terror, that itshould not exist anywhere in the world.

The President is working hard to strengthen Pakistan. He's got aneducation vision which I find to be enlightened. After all, he's gota very brilliant woman running the education department of Pakistan. Thereason I bring that up is both of us work hard to make our countries hopeful andoptimistic, and we recognize that a terrorist attack on either one of us willdisrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, and disrupt our plans to bringprosperity and hope and opportunity for our respective countries.