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CNN Sunday Morning

White House Looks for Reaction from Musharraf

Aired September 30, 2001 - 11:32   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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is in Camp David. He and other U.S. officials knew that interview was coming up. And right now, we're joined by Major Garrett outside Camp David.

Major, what were they expecting to hear from the president of Pakistan and did they hear what they expected?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, no official reaction yet, Jeanne. But I can tell you what administration officials have told CNN. They were looking to see what would or would not happen in this interview with the general of Pakistan.

One thing the administration wanted to see is if there would be any alarmist reaction from General Musharraf about word from Washington, as CNN reported on Saturday, that in fact, the Bush administration was going to support those who would seek to topple the Taliban regime. And General Musharraf did not express any particular alarm at that concept.

In one point of the interview, he said what the people of Afghanistan need is a government of stability, of unity, a government of peace that takes into account its ethnic layout. Well, that's, in some ways, exactly what the administration said it hopes to find and achieve in Afghanistan, a new government that is peaceful, stable, economically developed and free of terrorism. So the administration did not see any alarm from General Musharraf about the idea of it supporting those forces that might seek to topple the Taliban.

Another question of whether or not it is necessary for the United States to share with General Musharraf all the information it has developed in its case against Osama Bin Lade, the general said he was sensitive to things that would be confidential, wouldn't make it a demand of the United States government to share things that are confidential and must be kept confidential. However, he said, those things that are non-confidential, it would be, in his words, "helpful and create a better understanding of the people at large if those things were made available."

Again, no hard and fast demand that the administration doesn't believe it can meet on the question of the evidence it's assembled against Osama Bin Laden.

And again, at the other part of the interview, when Christiane asked if the Pakistani government has received all that it might wish from the United States government or other European allies and the coalition, General Musharraf said, "We haven't received all the things we would like. There are still many problems within Pakistan but it is not a deal." There is no quid pro quo. He didn't use those words. The general made it very clear he's not trying to negotiate or extract from the west more concessions. But nevertheless, left a clear impression that not everything Pakistan might need in terms of economic support has been delivered. He's certainly open to more conversations with the administration on that.

And last, Jeanne, one other thing the administration always interested in hearing about, from General Musharraf, as to whether or not he still believes that the U.N. resolution passed the day after the September 11 attacks is enough to justify military reaction. Again, the general saying what he said in his address to the Pakistani people, that in fact, that resolution is all the legal authority the United States needs to respond militarily. He said the Muslim states all supported that U.N. resolution. So in a sense, in his words, "they're all on board in this campaign against terrorism."

Those were among the top topics the administration was looking to see addressed in this interview. Back to you Jeanne.

MESERVE: Major Garrett outside Camp David, thank you.

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