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CNN Live At Daybreak

Rumsfeld Heads to South Asia Next Week

Aired May 31, 2002 - 05:05   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld heads to South Asia next week in the hopes of cooling tensions between India and Pakistan.

As CNN's John King reports, a war over the disputed Kashmir territory could seriously undermine U.S. efforts against al Qaeda.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president says he is determined al Qaeda not benefit from escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Al Qaeda is a -- they'll find weakness, and we are doing everything we can to continue to shore up our efforts on the Pakistani-Afghan border.

KING: Mr. Bush announced after this cabinet meeting he is dispatching Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the region, in addition to an already scheduled diplomatic mission by the deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage. Secretary Rumsfeld's mission is to assess the impact of the standoff on the U.S.-led war against terrorism and to remind nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan of the stakes.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: It's the millions and millions and millions of people who live in those two countries who would be damaged by a conflict.

KING: One immediate debate in the Defense and State Department is whether 63,000 U.S. citizens in both countries and the roughly 1,100 U.S. troops in Pakistan should be moved or evacuated.

BUSH: The secretary is, both secretaries are analyzing what it would take to protect American lives if need be.

KING: Pakistan says it might move troops away from the Afghan border and toward the disputed Kashmir region. British troops already are fortifying the Afghan side as a precaution and the Pentagon says U.S. troops might adjust, as well.

U.S. officials tell CNN India is preparing conventional warheads for its medium-range Prithri (ph) missiles. Those are capable of carrying nuclear warheads and some at the Pentagon fear a launch could bring a catastrophic miscalculation.

RUMSFELD: Things have a way of starting and then proceeding in unpredictable ways in life, and certainly wars can escalate in unpredictable ways.

KING: Mr. Bush again put the burden on Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, urging him to stop terrorist attacks originating on the Pakistani side of Kashmir.

BUSH: He must do so. He said he would do so. We and others are making it clear to him that he must live up to his word.

KING: The continued incursions have strained relations with a leader who has been a key ally in the war on terrorism.

(on camera): U.S. officials say any Pakistani troop movements away from the Afghan border could cause additional strain, complicating the search for al Qaeda and efforts to keep the president's promise to "patiently hunt these people down."

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And our Web site has a special section on the Indian- Pakistani conflict. Besides the latest news, you'll also get some historical perspective. Go to cnn.com/kashmir. Our America Online keyword is CNN.

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