President Musharraf in the USA (merged)

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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The President’s small entourage consists of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, head of the Human Development Commission, Dr Nasim Ashraf, and Federal Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood

President Musharraf’s Schedule

WASHINGTON, June 23: President Pervez Musharraf, who arrives in Washington on Monday evening, starts his official visit on Tuesday with a meeting with President George Bush at the Camp David.

  • The President would be staying at the Four Seasons hotel in the fashionable area of Georgetown. He will be flown to Camp David on Tuesday morning – He arrives here Monday evening – for his meeting with President George Bush and then flown back the same day. He will be hosted to dinner by the ambassador of Pakistan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, on Monday evening. The two Presidents will answer questions from the American and Pakistani press on Tuesday after their talks which are scheduled to last for 90 minutes.

  • His first interaction with the Pakistani community is scheduled for Wednesday when he formally inaugurates the $17 million new embassy building in Washington.

  • The president returns to Washington in the evening where he will be staying at a hotel in the historic Georgetown area because the official guest house, Blair House, is closed for renovation.

  • President Musharraf will have an hour-long meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage at his hotel when he returns from Camp David.

  • President Musharraf and his wife will be guests at a lunch by Mr and Mrs Bush. On return to Washington, after he records a TV interview with ABC’s Ted Koppel. Taken from DailyTimes

  • Later in the evening, the president attends a dinner at the National Defence University and addresses the audience.

  • On June 25, President Musharraf attends a breakfast meeting with the editorial board of The Washington Post. At noon, he attends a working lunch hosted by Vice-President Dick Cheney. In the afternoon, he will speak at the US Institute of Peace.

  • In the evening, he receives Secretary of State Colin Powell at the hotel.

  • After the inauguration, he may oversee the signing of agreements with the United States but the singing ceremony has not yet been confirmed. Pakistan is expected to sign the trade and investment framework agreement and another technology, likely purchasing US military hardware during this visit.

  • On June 26, World Bank president James Wolfensohn will call on Gen Musharraf. After the meeting, Mr Musharraf drives to the Capitol Hill for close-meetings with the House and Senate committees dealing with external affairs.

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Press Conference

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Light Moment…

While the demand for F-16s have been rejected, I’m glad trade and investment agreements b/w both the countries will be signed. Ted Koppel’s interview with President Musharraf is going to be on tonight(June 24, 03) @ ABC at U.S 12:30 ET and 9:30 PT. Be there!

REUTERS - Bush seeks big Pakistan aid package

The NEWS International - $3bn US aid for Pakistan

  • Bush welcomes Pak govt reforms, efforts for tolerant society; backs peace process in South Asia;

  • Bush says trade and investment pact to be signed; confident of catching al-Qaeda chief, Saddam.

  • Demand for F-16s rejected.

  • Musharraf says he wants sustainable democracy; Osama may be in border areas; invites Bush to visit Pakistan

CAMP DAVID: US President George W Bush Tuesday announced a 3-billion dollar aid package for Pakistan after talks with President General Pervez Musharraf at Camp David and assured full support to promote peace in South Asia.

“I will work with the United States Congress on a three billion dollar economic assistance package to help advance security and economic opportunity for Pakistani citizens,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Bush announced that the two countries were signing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meant to move the two countries toward a free-trade pact. Another agreement on science and technology would also be signed during the visit of President Musharraf. “I am pleased to announce that our nations are signing a trade and investment framework agreement, which will create a formal structure for expanding our economic cooperation.”

However, Bush he would not hand over US F-16 fighter jets that Pakistan has paid for but which fell foul of 1990s anti-nuclear sanctions. Bush said that substantial military assistance would be contained in the large aid package.

He has said Musharraf had been a “strong advocate” for the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, but added “in the package that we discussed, the five year, three billion dollar package, half of that money goes for defense matters, of which the F-16 won’t be a part.” Bush said the US was providing 31 million dollars for initiative on broad-based political participation and for education particularly for women and girls.

Musharraf basked in the prestige of Bush’s Camp David invitation, and thanked Bush for the special gesture." Musharraf was the first Southeast Asian leader to get such an invitation, and he asked Bush to come to Pakistan. Bush said “thank you,” but didn’t explicitly commit.

Bush appreciated the political and educational reforms initiated by President Musharraf and added that this country was committed to democracy. He said President Musharraf was making efforts to build a country, which is “tolerant and progressive”.

Bush praised Musharraf for setting out to build a modern Pakistan that is tolerant and prosperous," but said that will require movement toward democracy." On the fight against terrorism, President Musharraf said Pakistan has cooperated closely with the US, and hinted that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden may be hiding in a “treacherous” area along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

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Great Interview! Mush scored at each level of discussion. A lil background introduction of MMA Govt. in the Frontier Province by Nightline truly sumed it up. On face-to-face to a Nightline correspondent, Qazi Hussain Ahmed told he want to be more friendly with the West particularly America, but then as we’re fimiliar with, his hatred towards Western World was clearly shown in one of his rally. His fake face has finally shown through the media World Wide.

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Musharraf - Man in the Middle

Musharraf and Koppel Discuss Iraq, Israel, and the View From Pakistan.

W A S H I N G T O N, June 24— Fresh from his meeting with President Bush at Camp David, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf sat down with ABCNEWS’ Ted Koppel to recount the day’s events and to discuss, among other things, possible Pakistani involvement in Iraq, his position on Israel, and his own presidential powers. Following are excerpts of the interview:

  • TED KOPPEL: Did the president raise with you [today] the question of sending Pakistani troops to Iraq?

  • PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF: He did. He did talk of the Iraq dispute, and we did discuss Pakistan troops. In principle, we would agree, but we are looking at the modalities. …

  • KOPPEL: When you talk about the modalities, for example, would that mean that the United States would undertake the cost of those troops being in Iraq? Would that be one of the modalities?

  • MUSHARRAF: Yes. One of the issues is certainly the financial package, because it wouldn’t be fair to expect Pakistan itself to finance such a large force. The other is the political issues, which one is considering. … The issue is not of controlling a Muslim state, but the issue is more the perception of the Muslim world, and we need to see whether if it can get United Nations cover or the OIC cover or maybe the GCC cover. That is what we are looking for.

  • KOPPEL: So, in other words, you wouldn’t want to send the troops over [to Iraq] as Pakistani troops per se, but as Pakistani troops under a U.N. flag or a Gulf state flag?

  • MUSHARRAF: Yes. Additional countries participating. This is one area we are examining, as I said. … I feel the main problem is to establish some semblance of governance by the Iraqi people, because governance can’t be done by any non-Iraqi, extensively. You can be in focal points, but the Iraqis themselves have to govern themselves. That is the only way of making it successful, and since there is a total collapse, that is a major issue.

The other issue is certainly political, in that there are three major groups: the Shias in the south, and the Kurds in the north — with implications on Iran, Syria, Turkey — and then Sunnis in the center. This is another problem area where governance really will face some challenges.

  • KOPPEL: What do your intelligence people tell you, and what does your experience as a military man tell you, as you see these almost daily clashes between Iraqis and the U.S. military? Do you have the sense that that is organized, or do you have the sense that these are just isolated incidents?

  • MUSHARRAF: Well, I wouldn’t be able to accurately comment on that, frankly, but it is a cause of concern all right that these incidents are taking place. But then, having said that, one should have realized that, after all, where is the ex-Iraqi army? Where is the Republican Guard of the troops which are supposed to be so loyal to President Saddam Hussein?

  • **U.S.-Pakistani Relations

  • KOPPEL:** Are you satisfied that the United States is supportive of Pakistan? I believe it’s accurate to say that you have wanted Washington to become more involved in, for example, the Kashmiri dispute. Has President Bush given you any reason to believe that he will?

  • MUSHARRAF: Yes, he always says that he will remain committed to bringing peace and harmony between India and Pakistan.

  • KOPPEL: But remaining committed is a different thing from becoming involved. For example, he has just become involved, for the first time, in the road map to peace in the Middle East. Would you like to see him become involved in a similar fashion in a dispute between India and Pakistan?

  • MUSHARRAF: Pakistan would certainly like [that], because we are of the opinion that unless there is external influence, whether you call it mediation or facilitation, but unfortunately the other side, the Indian side that talks of a bilateral resolution of everything — although they know that there is a deal of facilitation going on behind the scenes — they don’t want to talk about it. We believe in talking, whatever is really happening. So Pakistan would encourage it. We would certainly like to have his involvement …

  • **On Israel

  • KOPPEL:** The question has been raised whether Pakistan might, at some point, recognize Israel as a state.

  • MUSHARRAF: I did say that, if at all these peace talks progress toward an improvement obligation, or toward a resolution of the Palestinian dispute, then, in consultation with our other Muslim friends, one would like to examine our approach or our policy toward Israel which is, at the most, at the moment, totally antagonistic.

  • KOPPEL: But unilaterally, you would not do that.

  • MUSHARRAF: Well, at this moment, since it’s such a sensitive issue, one needs to take the nation into confidence. Consensus has to be developed in the nation to see what does the nation really want. But, certainly, our past showed that we have been, as they say, “more Catholic than the pope” on this issue, which needs to be re-examined in the future.

  • Presidential Powers

  • KOPPEL: You took over, Mr. President, in 1999, and there has been some expectation that at some point or another you would give up one hat or the other — your military hat or your civilian hat as president. You have shown no inclination to do either. Why?

  • MUSHARRAF: Well, if you remember, I was wearing four hats, initially. When I took over, I was the chief of army staff, I was the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, I was the chief executive, and I was the president.

Now, I didn’t take or wear these hats by choice. They were really the circumstances put me in the situation that I was wearing four hats. But then I realized that this is not correct. I started removing the hats. On the first opportunity, I removed — I gave up my position as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and then, in accordance with the Supreme Court orders, I gave up my third position as the chief executive. … Once I feel that the harmony is there, stability has come, political institutions have started functioning and they have been cemented, I would certainly like to take off this, the one hat that remains.

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Why is he still going on about some old f-16's?

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if u had paid 30+billion dollars on fighter jets to protect ur country and u never got them, wouldn't u be a litte pissed?

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$30+ billion? :rotfl: i doubt pakistan has ever had such an amount. Just think about it..today Pakistan’s foriegn exchange reserves are at record highs..and even then they are below $11billion. The amount was in millions i guess. $28 million or something.

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Not only that ChthonicPowers the issue was settled some time ago. Clinton admin. gave Pakistan $500 million.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Not only that ChthonicPowers the issue was settled some time ago. Clinton admin. gave Pakistan $500 million.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah and lots of soya beans too....

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Mushy did well. He got a promise of $3B in loans and debt deferment. Tha should keep America engaged in his survival for sometime to come. :k:

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maybe

it’s still a lot tho :stuck_out_tongue:

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This is just an observation but why wasn't any of the civilian Ministers who did not have American links, (like the Foreign minister) or Information Minister not included in the delegation. Shaukat Aziz should have been in Pakistan for the budget.

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what? Mushraf said openly? how he can say "dont care for country but islam world perseption"?

The issue is not of controlling a Muslim state, but the issue is more the perception of the Muslim world

how he say "control" for pakistan easy but islam world etc?

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Mush is just another puppet. He is looking after his own personal interest under the guise of being a leader of Pakistan.

Out of the billions of dollars that are being given to Pakistan he is going to pocket at least half of it without any resistance and then we will see him dissapear.

That is the same thing that Anwar Shamim ( the air chief marshal in the mid to late 80's) did and then after his pockets got full he left.

I have seen some of these issues first hand and it was pretty clear to me from the time of Afghan war that Mush is definately not the kind of leader that can lead an Islamic nation. He is a SELL OUT!

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Rebuke over Pak students treatment

WASHINGTON: President Pervez Musharraf rebuked US immigration officials over their treatment of Pakistan students. He warned that increasing scrutiny of prospective visitors from Pakistan risked damaging public perceptions of the US, and ultimately Pak-US ties. “Students and their parents hesitate to come to the US for fear of harassment,” Musharraf said. “Travel advisories against Pakistan similarily disrupt business exchanges,” he said. He said the US treatment of Pakistanis was “self defeating,” :rotfl: but added that he believed that Bush was “a candid man” and a “sincere friend of Pakistan” and saw the situation in a similar light. “Our students must have access into the US.” —AFP

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_26-6-2003_pg1_1

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To summarize the 3 billion dollars. This isnt all cash. 1.5 is in military/defence aid. Which means it is equipment and not cash.

While the 1.5 for economic aid can be used to either develop the country or pay back debt Pakistan has from the US.

The current debt from the US stands at roughly 2 billion.

Going into all the calculations i have no clue about the parity of the money we get compared to our debt is a 1 to 3 ratio. Dont ask me what that means. All i know is that if we get 300 million in aid, and use it to write off debt. It equals 900 million debt written off.

However this 3 billion is over a period of 5 years, with 600 million a year. Of that 600 million, 300 is for defense and 300 for development/debt relief.

That is how it is broken down.

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Zakk,

Shaukat Aziz’s family lives in NYC. He was in Pakistan when Budget 03 was announced. Mr. Aziz is on the tour along with Dr. Ashraf Nasim, Sharifuddin Pirzada, Riaz Khokhar and Syed Anwar Mehmood.

Pakistan, US sign TIFA and S&T agreements

WASHINGTON: Pakistan and the United States signed two agreements here on Wednesday evening to further enhance bilateral trade and investment and bolster cooperation in the field of science and technology.

The first agreement, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), was signed by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and US Trade Representative Robert Zoerllick. President General Pervez Musharraf graced the function by his presence. Also present at the signing ceremony were Dr Ashraf Nasim, Chairman Human Resource Development, Sharifuddin Pirzada, Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs, Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood, Secretary Foreign Affairs Riaz Khokhar, US Ambassador in Islamabad Nancy Powell and Administrator USAID, Andrew Natsios.

**The second agreement on increasing bilateral cooperation was signed by Foreign Secretary Riaz H Khokhar and Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs Lady Dobriansky.

“TIFA will lead to better market access to Pakistan in the US, and enhancement of trade and investment,”** Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said later briefing the newsmen. It will lead to signing free trade agreement subsequently, he stated.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said a new era of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States has begun and these agreements synchronise with this new era. He said the TIFA is a prelude to signing of FTA, which could, however, take some time.

Shaukat Aziz said the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) adds a new dimension to Pak-US relationship- and “institutionalises consultations between the governments of Pakistan and the United States.”

The model agencies for TIFA are the ministries of commerce of both the countries “to bring the economic relationship closer.” “It is trade and investment relationship, when we talk of TIFA,” he said, and it seeks to extend positive help to the private sector. Now that the two governments are into a long-term commitment, he said **“it is for the first time in our relationship with the United States transcends political cooperation and goes into commercial dimension.”

“That is why, TIFA is a breakthrough in our commercial relations,” Shaukat Aziz said. “Now both sides will look into it how to promote trade and investment, through the consultation mechanism, which would be an effective means to achieve better results.” “It would look into issues, as how to remove them to be able to promote trade and investment.”

Both sides would hopefully begin the negotiations towards a free trade agreement, though it is not automatic with the signing of the TIFA. There was a reference made during the ceremony to comprehensive trade agreement, “which is worth notice,” in this regard.

However, the Science and Technology Agreement deals with the aspects of research and training in the field of science and technology in Pakistan with US assistance. “It also provides for exchange of people between the two countries in the field of scientific knowledge.” “We know that Pakistan has to catch up with the rest of the world in the field, and the science and technology is not an academic thing, in fact, it is the underlying trend behind any industry- and, therefore, it is very important,” Shaukat Aziz said.

Robert Zoellick, US Trade representative in his remarks, said Pakistan and the United States enjoy cordial relations, which have received a further impetus, in the wake of the current visit by President General Pervez Musharraf. The Administrator of the USAID, Andrew Natsios observed that Pakistan has made a major headway in the social sector, and education.

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Pakistan US Free Trade Agreement? Pfff....if that happens in the next 20 years heck i will post my picture in the nude. Australia cant get a bloody FTA and we might! Most of Chiles products are already "free trade" based for years now and they are getting an FTA right now.

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CM,

It happened yesterday(June 26th, 03).

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Many Pakistanis have doubts over the U.S.'s approach to the issue of terrorism - President Musharraf

Musharraf to U.S.: Appease Muslims

WASHINGTON – Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has urged the United States to do more to ease Muslim grievances around the world, which he described as the “root causes” of terrorism.

Musharraf said Washington’s war on terrorism needed to focus on the cause of terrorism rather than just the symptoms, adding that the conflicts in Kashmir and the Middle East were important in improving the United States’ image in the Muslim world.

“If a Middle East and a South Asia peace process can develop credibility, the very negative perceptions arising from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will become much less so,” Musharraf told the U.S. Institute of Peace on Wednesday during day two of his visit to Washington, Reuters news agency reported.

The Pakistani leader has been one of the U.S. President George Bush’s strongest allies in the U.S.-led war against terror.

Musharraf’s efforts to rout remnants of the Taliban and also members of the al Qaeda terror network in Pakistan earned the praise of Bush during their meeting at Camp David on Tuesday.

But Musharraf admitted many Pakistanis could not understand cooperating with the United States in the campaign against terrorism.

“This is due the perception that symptoms rather than root causes of terror and extremism are being addressed, and that unjust situations in which Muslim people are victims of state terror are being ignored,” he said.

Muslim nations also needed to shoulder much responsibility, the Pakistani leader said, and choose enlightened moderation over Islamic extremism.

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Pakistanis should be happy with the $3billion aid promise.

Prior to 9/11, how many of you would have believed that Pakistan a pariah nation at that time, would be feted by the world, let alone, their leader being invited to Camp David?

Forget about the F 16’s. Pakistan now has a golden opportunity to build the infrastructure that it needs for its development. You can add this to the $10billion that it has in its reserves. Use the money wisely. No one knows what is around the corner!!

Peace.

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PT there is no way it could have been signed in one day. We have 5500 goods we trade in, which are bound in accordance with the WTO. 1000s if not more which are not bound. You can not establish a free trade area for goods, services, intellectual property in a matter of a day. Heck the negotiations for Australia are starting now and they are supposed to take a couple of years and a majority of the trade between the US and Australia is already free!!!