Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

Comments by President of Pakistan

Aired November 07, 2001 - 06:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Pakistani leader General Pervez Musharraf, he is in Istanbul, Turkey today, and he is making some comments. Let's go ahead and listen in.

(IN PROGRESS)

GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: However, the borders are very porous, it's mountainous, and some people can trek across the mountains and go across to Afghanistan. That can't be stopped 100 percent. The lady here --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE JOURNALIST: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION).

MUSHARRAF: No, they are not becoming a threat. We have diplomatic positions with them throughout. Pakistan is the only country, which has recognized Afghanistan and still maintains diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. We have certain relations with them. We have commonality of history, commonality of culture and commonality of geography with the Afghans, and therefore, Taliban government was representing the Afghans.

But there is no threat to Pakistan as such. They have their own views. As long as they keep their views to themselves in Afghanistan, it's not a threat to Pakistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE JOURNALIST: What you just mentioned here about ground troops during the operation, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the operation, what do you think about the ground troops?

MUSHARRAF: Well, the operation, basically, is going on in the air, and we have offered our airspace and logistic support to coalition forces. The operations on ground are basically search-and- rescue operations and some special operations. I cannot say the details of what effects are being created, but I only hope that the military objectives that it has set out to achieve are achieved as fast as possible, so that peace can brought to Afghanistan. Yes, please.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE JOURNALIST: Sir, Afghan -- Pakistan's press mentioned today that the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) plan to divide Afghanistan (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

MUSHARRAF: To divide Afghanistan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE JOURNALIST: Yes.

MUSHARRAF: I don't think he is doing that, and I certainly would oppose any plans to divide Afghanistan. That is most unnatural, and that is most impracticable. So, therefore, I don't think is true. This is a misstatement, maybe. The broad barometers of whatever political dispensation would be suitable for Afghanistan are that we have to ensure the unity and stability of Afghanistan.

We ought to -- there ought to be a broad-based government based on multi-ethnic lines, taking into consideration the demographic composition of Afghanistan, and so that any solution in Afghanistan has to be home grown by the people of Afghanistan. And we are to have a friendly government -- a government in Afghanistan, which is friendly with all of its neighbors. To begin these barometers, a political dispensation needs to be worked out by the Afghans themselves. I don't think any external -- any individual or any country should attempt at imposing a solution, least of all trying to divide Afghanistan.

KAGAN: We've been listening to General Pervez Musharraf, the leader of Pakistan. He is in Istanbul, Turkey today, making comments about the situation in Afghanistan, pointing out that his country, Pakistan, is the last remaining in the world to keep up diplomatic relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan, a situation he considers natural as a neighbor and common customs and a common history.

The general is on a tour here. He is in, as we mentioned, Turkey. He goes from there to Paris, to London, and then he'll be in New York City to address the U.N. General Assembly.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.