Powell, Musharraf Discuss Ways to Fight Terrorism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 09, 2002

Powell, Musharraf Discuss Ways to Fight Terrorism

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to discuss ways to fight terrorism and defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, the State Department said.

"The secretary spoke with President Musharraf again this morning," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "They continue to look at ways to fight terrorism and ways to de- escalate tensions between India and Pakistan."

The spokesman said the United States attached some importance to the statement that President Musharraf made at his joint press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in which he said "Pakistan rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, period."

"We expect that they will continue to move against terrorist organizations because of the danger that these organizations pose to Pakistan and its neighbors," Boucher said.