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Pakistan Pledges to Back U.S. Terrorism Fight
Pakistan military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, under pressure for backing Afghanistan's Taliban movement, on Thursday pledged full cooperation against terrorism to President Bush.
"Pakistan has been extending cooperation to international efforts to combat terrorism in the past and will continue to do so. All countries must join hands in this common cause," said a formal statement.
"I wish to assure President Bush and the U.S. government of our fullest cooperation in the fight against terrorism," Musharraf said.
The spokesman for the foreign ministry said Secretary of State Colin Powell had discussed Tuesday's attacks on the United States with Musharraf on Wednesday. He said Pakistan had pledged support for U.S. efforts against those responsible. The Taliban are sheltering Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who is a chief suspect in the attacks on New York and Washington.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are the only countries in the world to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Pakistan is the only one to have an embassy in Kabul.
In the wake of the latest attacks, Musharraf has gone to extremes to demonstrate his support for the United States. While never mentioning the Taliban or bin Laden, he has appeared on television twice to condemn the attack.
On Wednesday Pakistan called on Pakistanis in the United States to provide all aid possible to victims of the attacks, including giving blood.
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