| Islamabad
March 04, 2006
Joint Statement
Pakistan - United States Strategic Partnership
President Musharraf and President Bush have affirmed
the long-term, strategic partnership between their two countries. In 2004,
the United States acknowledged its aspirations for closer bilateral ties
with Pakistan by designating Pakistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally. The Pakistan-U.S.
strategic partnership is based on the shared interests of the Pakistan
and the United States in building stable and sustainable democracy and
in promoting peace and security, stability, prosperity, and democracy
in South Asia and across the globe.
The two leaders are determined to strengthen the foundation for a strong,
stable, and enduring relationship. This will require a significant expansion
of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral economic ties, including mutual trade and investment.
As a key step in this direction the Pakistan and United States are making
meaningful progress toward concluding a Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Both leaders commit to working together with Afghanistan to make Pakistan
and Afghanistan a land bridge linking the economic potentials of South
Asia and Central Asia.
The American people feel profound sympathy for the victims of the tragic
earthquake that struck on October 8, 2005. President Bush reaffirmed the
United States' determination to stand by the Pakistani people as they
recover and rebuild.
President Musharraf and President Bush reaffirm their condemnation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Following the September
11 attacks, the Pakistan and United States joined international efforts
to fight the scourge of terrorism. President Bush is grateful for President
Musharraf's strong and vital support in the war on terror. The two leaders
underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy for addressing the threat
of terrorism and extremism. President Musharraf and President Bush will
continue to work together to address political injustice, poverty, corruption,
ignorance, and hopelessness. They resolve to maintain their close counter-terrorism
cooperation and to increase their efforts to reduce the threat of terrorism
regionally and internationally.
The two leaders recognize the need to promote tolerance, respect and mutual
understanding, and inter-faith harmony to strengthen appreciation of the
values and norms common to the world's religions and cultures. The two
leaders acknowledge with appreciation the various international initiatives
in this regard including President Musharraf's concept of Enlightened
Moderation. The two leaders agreed that acts that disturb inter-faith
harmony should be avoided.
President Musharraf and President Bush support the peace process and composite
dialogue between Pakistan and India for improvement of relations and resolution
of disputes and building a better future in South Asia.
Both leaders share concern about the threat to global stability posed
by the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the threat
of terrorist groups acquiring such weapons. President Musharraf and President
Bush commit to play leading roles in international efforts to prevent
the proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related technology
and expertise.
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
President Musharraf and President Bush are launching a Strategic Dialogue
under the Strategic Partnership. The Dialogue will be co-chaired by the
Pakistan's Foreign Secretary and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs. They will meet regularly to review issues of mutual interest.
In implementation of the strategic partnership, President Musharraf and
President Bush commit both countries to undertake the following steps
in the areas of economic growth and prosperity, energy, peace and security,
social sector development, science and technology, democracy, and non-proliferation:
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY
• Establish and implement strong financial sector controls that
can defend against illicit finance.
• Facilitate Pakistan's economic growth through increased trade
and investment links with the United States and within the region and
the global economy, including through an enhanced economic dialogue encompassing
bilateral cooperation for Pakistan's economic development, regional economic
cooperation, and the global economy.
• The United States will provide financial support for the establishment
of a Center for Entrepreneurship in Pakistan under the Broader Middle
East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative. The Center will promote entrepreneurial
training and skills development to young women and men to launch business
initiatives that would generate employment opportunities.
ENERGY COOPERATION
• Hold a High-Level Energy Meeting to inaugurate an energy working
group, which will explore ways to meet Pakistan's growing energy needs
and strengthen its energy security.
• Work together to develop public and private collaboration on a
broad range of energy sources.
PEACE AND SECURITY
• Build a robust defense relationship that advances shared security
goals, promotes regional stability, and contributes to international security.
• Continue robust U.S. security assistance to meet Pakistan's legitimate
defense needs and bolster its capabilities in the war on terror.
• Deepen bilateral collaboration in the fields of defense training,
joint exercises, defense procurement, technology transfers, and international
peacekeeping.
• Decide to increase the frequency of defense policy discussions
to strengthen collaboration in the identified sectors.
• Work together to ensure the maintenance of peace, security, and
stability in the South Asia region and beyond.
• Cooperate closely in international institutions, including bodies
of the United Nations, on matters of mutual concern.
SOCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
• Continue U.S. support in the health sector through collaborative
projects and programs.
• Reinforce Pakistan's efforts to reform and expand access to its
public education through continuing U.S. cooperation.
• Encourage educational programs and greater interaction and linkages
between the research and academic institutions of the two countries.
• Promote exchange of students and scholars, fellowship programs,
and strengthened research collaboration, including through institutional
support for higher education and training.
• Establish a wide-ranging High Level Dialogue on Education to enhance
and strengthen cooperation in the education sector.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• Build capacity in Pakistan and work toward increased cooperation
in science, technology, and engineering.
• Improve the quality, relevance, or capacity of education and research
at Pakistan's institutions of higher education in the field of science
and technology.
• Establish Pakistan-U.S. Joint Committee on Science and Technology
to develop collaborative activities and relationships between the scientific
and technological communities and institutions of both countries.
• Enhance institutional capacity of Pakistan in the area of environment
through exchange of experts and developing linkages and collaborative
projects with relevant U.S. institutions.
DEMOCRACY
• Support Pakistan as it develops strong and transparent democratic
institutions and conducts free and fair elections to ensure sustainable
democracy.
NON-PROLIFERATION
• Support Pakistan's non-proliferation efforts and strengthen its
capabilities, by:
• Supporting Pakistan's measures for implementation of its new export
control law, including adoption of enforcement regulations and establishment
of a new export licensing body; and
• Providing U.S. assistance through the Department of Energy's Second
Line of Defense Program (Megaports) and the Department of Homeland Security's
Container Security Initiative.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
• President Bush thanked President Musharraf and the people of Pakistan
for the generous reception and warm hospitality accorded to him, Mrs.
Laura Bush, and members of the Presidential delegation during their stay
in Pakistan.
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