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CNN Live Today

White House Concerned About Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

Aired May 30, 2002 - 14:08   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the U.S. concern about the two nations who are on the brink of war. As we told you, President Bush is sending Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to India and Pakistan next week.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is live at the White House with the latest on that mission. And I don't know if it's a specific mission, but it certainly sounds like it's a necessary one at this point, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a critical mission not only for the defense secretary, but also the president, who is sending up Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to the region before Defense Secretary Rumsfeld even arrives.

And of course, the concern here at the White House is not only for the peace in the region between the two countries, but also for the safety and security of U.S. troops and U.S. citizens in both India and Pakistan. The federal government right now is trying to put together a plan on how it can protect and possibly, if necessary, evacuate some 1,100 U.S. troops and as many as 63,000 U.S. citizens who are in India and in Pakistan now as we speak.

Now, President Bush met with his cabinet this morning here at the White House, spoke to them about this issue, and said and made it clear that he was deploying these top U.S. officials to the region to try to get both countries to end their (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are making it very clear to both Pakistan and India that war will not serve their interests, and we are a part of an international coalition applying pressure to both parties -- particularly to President Musharraf. He must stop incursions across the line of control. He must do so. He said he would do so. We -- we and others are making it clear to him that he must live up to his words.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: The escalating tensions between India and Pakistan could, of course, have a direct impact on the U.S. war on terrorism. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad today saying that the is considering moving his country's troops from the border, the Afghan border right now where thy have been stationed since the beginning of U.S. conflict there in Afghanistan, instead to the border with India in the east. President Musharraf saying, quote, "Pakistan's first priority is its own security."

Now, of course, Carol, that would leave that long and very porous border unprotected, making it even more difficult for U.S. troops who are still in Afghanistan trying to stamp out those last remaining al Qaeda cells.

LIN: That's right, Kathleen Koch at the White House.

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