Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Rumsfeld Arrives in Islamabad, Pakistan

Aired November 04, 2001 - 10:02   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: Turning on to the war on terrorism. As the U.S. led strikes continue to pound the front lines of northern Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who is traveling through Central Asia. He has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan to talk military strategy with Pakistani leaders.

CNN's Bill Delaney has more on the goal of this trip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, on what's being described as a lightning tour of Central and South Asia. Eight hours approximately in Pakistan, meeting the Pakistani military officials and of course with Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf.

Four main themes, Pakistani officials say, the possibility of an eventual ground offensive in Afghanistan, the possibility of some kind of post-Taliban national army in Afghanistan, the Pakistanis want to talk about the overall military situation in Afghanistan from their perspective and also will of course be discussing the on going bombing campaign in Afghanistan.

Now Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf saying again over the weekend that he will raise the issue of stopping bombing during Ramadan, but the president has also said when he visits Washington later this week, he will not be pressing George W. Bush -- President George W. Bush on that issue. Presumably he will not be pressing the secretary of defense either.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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