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WASHINGTON: The following are excerpts from an interview given by US President George Bush to Anwar Iqbal of Dawn and another Pakistani journalist at the White House on Wednesday. A brief report on the interview appeared in Dawn’s Thursday edition.
President Bush: Thanks for coming. I’m looking forward to going to Pakistan. I appreciate the courage of your president —I’m looking forward to my visit with President Musharraf. I’m trying to think of the number of times I have met with President Musharraf. I would say five or six, seven times. I remember our visit to Camp David.
I appreciate his commitment to joining the world in dealing with Islamic radicals who will murder innocent people to achieve an objective. I appreciate the fact that he has stood strong in the face of several attempts on his life. I also appreciate our relationship with Pakistan and his vision for democracy in Pakistan.
The prime minister (of Pakistan) was here several weeks ago. We had a very good talk.
Question: Mr President, I’ll start with the cartoon controversy. You and your allies work very hard on bridging the gap between the Islamic and the Western world, but the publication of a few cartoons in a remote newspaper seems to have undone everything. Why?
President Bush: First of all, I think it’s very important for people around the world to know that a free press is important for a democratic state. A free press — for peaceful states, as well. Free press holds people to account. Free press makes sure that there is a check and a balance on people in power. Free press also must be a responsible press.
Secondly, I fully understand people taking — not liking the cartoons. On the other hand, I do not believe that people should use that as a pretext for violence, nor do I appreciate the fact that some are using — manipulating the anger over the cartoons to achieve political ends. And therefore, it’s very important for governments to not allow policy to be set by those who are cynically manipulating the anger that some have felt over these cartoons.
Q: You have announced this global nuclear energy initiative, and this is the one that you have offered to India also. Is it India-specific, or Pakistan can also be included in this initiative?
Answer: Well, we are starting with India and one of the primary reasons why is that India is in need of a diversification away from fossil fuels. India is consuming a lot of fossil fuel. That is driving up the price of — a part of the reasons why the price is rising. America uses a lot of fossil fuels, China is using more fossil fuels, India is using more fossil fuels, and it’s affecting the price of energy in the United States and in India and in Pakistan. And so, therefore, to the extent to which we can get these fast-growing, developing nations to use something other than fossil fuels, it’s in the world’s interest, and it’s in Pakistan’s interest, as well.
Now — and so I would not view — some say, well, this is a zero-sum attitude by the United States; quite the contrary. It’s the beginning of a policy that says there will be a suppliers group of people who are capable of providing fuel stocks for a civilian nuclear power industry, countries that will then collect the spent fuel, reprocess it to be able to burn it in new types of reactors.
The purpose of this whole initiative, and beginning with countries like India, is to recognise that alternative sources of energy are going to be important for the development of a clean world and a world that becomes substantially less reliant on non-renewable sources of energy.
Q: But Pakistan can’t be included in that?
A: Well, as I said, this is just the beginning of a very long process.
Q: In your speech, you talked about Kashmir dispute, and you said that you would like India and Pakistan to take bilateral steps to resolve the dispute. Pakistan has made certain proposals, but they have not been reciprocated by India. And it seems that there’s a need for a third-party mediation or some sort of help. Do you have any specific proposals for that?
A: First, I’d like to make sure I clarify my statement for all to read. America supports a solution that is acceptable to all sides — since you’re probably the only person in the room that paid attention to my speech — the speech, as you know, I said ‘to both sides’. The language should be ‘all sides’, because it recognises that a solution must be acceptable to India, Pakistan and those living within Kashmir.
Our position is one that says a dispute that has been so long in a nation’s history can best be resolved when two nations make the determination to sit down and come up with a solution that is acceptable to all sides. Of course, during my discussions, I will encourage that dialogue to go forward. I’m convinced that history changes, and as history changes, attitudes can change, circumstances change, and that we have a possibility to see this issue resolved by strong and courageous leaders.
I’m pleased to see the amount of trade that’s taking place between India and Pakistan. It’s a substantial increase from July of ‘04 to July of ‘05. I thought that the new transportation routes between India and Pakistan are hopeful signs.
And so the role of the United States, in our judgment, is one that will help lead to a settlement that is acceptable to all sides.
Q: The Commonwealth has recently asked President Musharraf to quit the army by 2007. Is the United States comfortable with a leader who is also the chief of army staff in a democracy? Does it bother you that he — his continuation as the chief of army staff?
A: I’ve had discussions with the president quite frequently about his vision for a democratic Pakistan. And I am — I believe that he is headed for a — continue to head for — on the road of reform. And he understands the pressures being put on him. As you said, the Commonwealth spoke, and I believe that he’s committed to having a reform process come to fruition, and I believe he’s committed to free and open elections.
Q: There is another issue that is particularly sensitive for both India and Pakistan, which is that of India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Can you, at some stage, allow the construction of the pipeline?
A: What’s important is that India, Pakistan, and the United States work together to send a firm message to the Iranians that a development of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. Energy supplies are important for India, and they’re important for Pakistan. But a country which has been unwilling to adhere to treaties that it’s agreed to, a country the president of which has said the destruction of Israel is part of foreign policy, a country which has not told the truth when it comes to whether or not they’re enriching uranium or not is a country that free nations need to deal with in a diplomatic way.
And the best thing that the Iranians can hear is a unified message from all of us.
Q: Does it mean that at some date you could decide to take military action against Iran?
A: Diplomacy is our first option.
Q: Recently a US air strike killed some Pakistani civilians in a tribal area. This has happened before too. Why incidents like this happen? Lack of trust? Intelligence failure? Lack of coordination?
A: We are — we’re partners in the war against terrorists, some of whom tried to kill your (Pakistan’s) president. We coordinate. We’re allies and we coordinate. Nor do we talk about sensitive anti-terror operations. Of course the United States mourns the loss of innocent life.
TRADE INCENTIVES
Q: In your speech, you also spoke about the importance of prosperity, and you talked about offering business incentives to Pakistan. Do you have anything specific in mind such as signing a free trade agreement?
A: The first step is a bilateral investment treaty, and we will discuss that — we will continue to discuss that. We discussed that during Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s trip, and we will continue to pursue this avenue toward opening up additional opportunities, commercial opportunities between our respective countries. First things first, however.
There have been some preliminary discussions, as well, about perhaps some trading arrangements in the western provinces of Pakistan. Such an agreement would be beneficial not only to Pakistan, but to Afghanistan as well.
I must applaud the president’s economic reform package. It’s yielded some strong results. Pakistan’s economy is growing, and that’s positive. You know, one of the key things is that people see the benefits of democracy — the tangible benefits of democracy, besides being able to express themselves. Today, I also referred to the Pakistan press, you might recall.
I think I referred to you as lively, meaning that — at least the Pakistan press I’ve been exposed to has never been afraid to ask any questions, or never been intimidated, particularly with the open press conference. And I suspect it might be the same when I go next week.
So I want to talk about reconstruction aid right quick before you finish. It’s very important for the people of Pakistan to see that the United States is interested in the lives of the citizens. Sometimes in the way things get reported, our policies get disconnected from people’s lives improving.
When the disaster (earthquake in Pakistan) struck, it took our government no time to move. And we moved a lot of equipment and a lot of manpower and a lot of aid, because we cared about the people that were suffering. I remember President Musharraf calling me on the phone at one point to thank me. And it was a genuine thanks, because we were — as you know, we transferred a lot of choppers, which were necessary to be able to move manpower and aid into remote regions of your country.
Q: Being an ally, there are some expectations. We (Pakistan) captured many Al Qaeda operatives and more than 300 Pakistani soldiers died in these operations. So there is a lot of expectation in Pakistan — you spoke about bilateral investment treaty and access to the market. Are we moving towards free trade?
And secondly, Pakistani students are facing terrible problems in getting visas to the US. Can you do something to help them?
A: A couple of points — one, there’s no question that the Musharraf government is committed to working to get Al Qaeda brought to justice. It was Al Qaeda that tried to kill him more than one time. And he also recognises Al Qaeda’s presence is destabilising. Al Qaeda doesn’t care about the people of Pakistan. They don’t care about helping people get a good education. They’re there to create chaos and murder. And so I appreciate his firm resolve.
Secondly, we have been providing equipment. We resolved a long simmering issue in the F-16s. I recognise it has been put on hold, but the government’s commitment is a real commitment. It changed policy, as you recall. It reversed something that took place in the past.
The BIT is a beginning of additional trading. I agree with you on the issue of education. First of all, there are a lot of Pakistani citizens here, and a lot of Pakistani Americans that are making vital contributions to our country, proud United States citizens who honour their heritage.
I agree with you that there ought to be more student exchanges. But this is not an issue just for Pakistani students, this is an issue for students from other parts of the world as well. We had a very restrictive visa policy right after 9/11. Our policy was a natural reaction to a terrible event that took place. But it didn’t take me long to realise that we were missing a great opportunity to have students from Pakistan see the real America.
And there’s no better place, no better way in many ways to see America than to come as a student, study at our institutions, but more importantly interface with people the same age and realise that ours is an accepting culture.
And we welcome Muslims. And we welcome people that may be different, and that there’s no better ambassador for the American way of life than to have somebody here who has seen what America is like and then go home. Word of mouth is a pretty significant antidote to some of the propaganda that is being played out for others to hear. And so I agree with you, and Condi Rice (US secretary of state) is very much involved with constantly revisiting the student visa issue. In other words, there are some restrictions even after the students got here.
Finally, we have announced a very strong language initiative so that more people are capable of conversing with people in parts of the world where, frankly, we haven’t had that much conversation in their native language. And this trip will help send a message to the people of Pakistan: one, we’re proud of the Pakistani Americans who live here; two, we want this relation to continue. It’s a vital relationship. And as I say, I am pleased with my personal relationship with President Musharraf.
I try to put myself in his shoes. He’s got a tough assignment. On the one hand he’s got people trying to kill him; and on the other hand, he’s taking this country further down the road of democracy, and in so doing is dealing with people who are taking advantage of a free press.
And as I mentioned to you, I understand why people are reacting to that. It’s very important, however, that they react in a way that does honour to the process and not resort to violence and destruction, and in some countries, to death.
And so looking forward to it. See you all there, I hope.
Q: Some media reports say that you may cancel your visit to Pakistan because of the protests against blasphemous cartoons. Can you state if you ever thought of cancelling the visit?
A: No, I did not. I never thought about cancelling it.
Q: No?
A: Of course not. No, zero, zero chance (of cancelling the visit).
Q: So we have a good word for the students, they may get visas?
A: Well, I think we’re working very hard to make sure. Obviously, Ambassador Crocker and the embassy there (in Islamabad) is the conscience. I will pass this on to Condi (Condoleezza Rice) when I talk to her just to make sure that she’s looking at the issue.
Q: The best antidote is exposing people to American people.
A: There you go. Well, thank you.
Q: Don’t restrict that (people to people contacts).
A: Don’t worry. Glad you’re here. Good job.
