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American Morning

Talking to Pervez Musharraf

Aired September 02, 2002 - 09:06   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to stay overseas right now, and get to Pakistan for our exclusive interview with the president, Pervez Musharraf. Christiane Amanpour earlier today sat down with the general to talk about a range of issues confronting his country and his people.
And Christiane is live now in Islamabad with more -- hello.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (AUDIO GAP) about a year ago after President Bush asked him, had been worthwhile for him. He said, yes, it has been incredible opportunity for Pakistan to take on militants (AUDIO GAP)...

HEMMER: We apologize for the audio difficulties. Oftentimes, half a world away, it's quite difficult to make the exact connection through technology.

Nonetheless, what Christiane was saying is teeing up, in a sense, her interview with the leader of Pakistan, talking about Osama bin Laden and talking about al Qaeda, and also talking about the continued hunt in his own country for al Qaeda members.

Here again, part of the interview that Christiane had with Pervez Musharraf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTAN: Osama bin Laden has not been found. I would say he may even be dead, but the leadership and the entire organization are in total disarray at the moment.

AMANPOUR (on camera): The U.S. has said that they may need to beef up the hunt for al Qaeda beyond Afghanistan. If they ask to put more troops here in Pakistan to search for al Qaeda, would you allow that?

MUSHARRAF: U.S. troops? No, I don't think that would be wise at all. We are looking after all -- any foreign elements in Pakistan, and we have deployed part of our army and the frontier corps for this purpose. And the United States knows what we are doing.

We are fully involved in this act. We don't need assistance. We will ask for assistance if we require it. And we -- I think our forces are capable of meeting whatever is required in Pakistan.

AMANPOUR: Do you expect some kind of attack against a Western target on September 11? MUSHARRAF: One can't rule out the possibility, but again, one wouldn't like to put an entire onus on the door of al Qaeda, again, because I don't think they are organized. But there is so much of whatever is happening in the Middle East has its own repercussions, and therefore, a possibility does exist. Certainly, one wouldn't rule it out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: What President Musharraf also was saying was that he believed having made that U-turn in response to a direct request from President Bush a year ago to take on militants and to help join the fight against al Qaeda, he thinks that that has been a good opportunity for Pakistan to, as he said, put a stop to a trend towards Islamic fanaticism that have going on in this country, although he did admit that that had raised some problems, that Islamic militants were on the rise here.

You know, there have been quite a lot of attacks against pro- Western targets over the last year. But President Musharraf believing that he could eventually, he believes, stem that tide and what he said make a return to normalcy here.

Also, we asked him a direct question about whether he would support the United States in its military intervention into Iraq, if there were to be one. And he said, no, Pakistan would have nothing to do that -- Bill.

HEMMER: Christiane, last winter and into the winter, we could not go a day here at CNN without talking about the relationship, the newfound relationship between Pakistan and the U.S., between the general and President Bush. Did he characterize his relationship today in terms of how much contact they have, how much communication they have right now between the U.S. and Pakistan?

AMANPOUR: He didn't characterize in terms of between the president, but he did say that they have, obviously, still a very strong relationship, that Pakistan remains firmly committed to its war against terror, if you like, to taking on not only al Qaeda, but the militants here at home.

And he also said that even though things have been somewhat difficult, as I mentioned, because of sowing some seeds of discontent here, nonetheless, he felt that the relationship with the United States was proceeding well. He felt that, you know, some of the things that the U.S. had promised -- in terms of loans, aid, in terms of rescheduling debts and things -- those had come through, but not perhaps to the extent that Pakistan had wished and would want in the future.

But in the end, painting a positive picture of the relationship between the United States and Pakistan.

HEMMER: The exclusive interview with the general, the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. Christiane Amanpour live in Islamabad -- thanks again, Christiane. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.