Diplomatic Action

IAN WILLIAMS:

As top clerics gathered in Kabul this morning there seemed little prospect of them handing over Osama bin Laden the man the Taliban calls their guest. The dwindling Kabul population has been told to prepare for a holy war and in a message to the clerics the Taliban's supreme leader accused Washington of using Osama s a pretext to attack Afghanistan — hardly encouraging for Pakistan's President, as he addressed his nation tonight.

PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF Pakistan:

(speaking through interpreter) Pakistan is facing the most difficult period in its recent history. Its decision will have a profound impact on our future. If we make a mistake, it will do us enormous harm.

IAN WILLIAMS:

And he said the country was on a high state of alert.

PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF:

(speaking through interpreter) The Pakistan army and all of our people are ready to defend the integrity of our country. Nobody should be in any doubt. Right now our air force is on high alert and they are ready for a do or die mission.

IAN WILLIAMS:

In spite of growing protests — this on the streets of Karachi today — the President said most people supported his decision to assist the United States. He appealed for wisdom over emotion. There were also signs the authorities are growing impatient with their hard line critics, many of whom have close links to the Taliban.

SAMI-UL-HAQ, Defense Council, Afghanistan:

(speaking through interpreter) The Taliban refused to hand him over. But no nation or country will hand over a person just on the basis of accusations. They want evidence. They can only take action on the basis of evidence but they say none is being given.

IAN WILLIAMS:

We had a glimpse of Pakistan's heightened readiness en route to the border today. Troops were on the move. Local journalists who have been working both sides of the border talked of a big arms buildup.

ABDULLAH JAN, Journalist:

The villagers told me that the army men were pulling up heavy guns and cannons to these mountains.

IAN WILLIAMS:

And as for the Taliban…

ABDULLAH JAN:

Three days back I saw the antiaircraft guns they have installed on the cliffs on the other side of the border, the small ones, antiaircraft guns. And people coming from Jallalabad said that they also witnessed a movement of tanks and army – military – on the road.

IAN WILLIAMS:

In Islamabad today a memorial service at the American embassy – and strong words of encouragement for the Pakistan President on whom Washington has been applying intense pressure.

WENDY CHAMBERLIN, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan: He has been enormously supportive of us, the United States in a period when we have come to him with certain requests, because of the very grave events that occurred on our soil.

IAN WILLIAMS:

While at the nearby British mission diplomats tonight say they're advising all dependents and nonessential staff to leave Pakistan.

JIM LEHRER:

In Washington, there was a full day of diplomatic activity. Terence Smith reports.

TERENCE SMITH:

Today, President Bush began his coalition-building efforts by welcoming President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country. He told reporters that the United States is gathering evidence about the terrorists to make its case to the world.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

This is a campaign in which nations will contribute in a variety of ways. Some nations will be willing to join in a very overt way. Other nations will be willing to join by sharing information and information in a campaign such as this is going to be incredibly important. It's very important for us to be able to find where these people are. There's going to need to be a campaign… There needs to be a financial component of the campaign where we need to cooperate to make sure we cut off funds, find out… Find these organizations that serve as front groups for funding these terrorist cells.

TERENCE SMITH:

Also at the White House this morning, Mr. Bush spoke by phone with the Presidents of South Korea and South Africa, seeking their support. Around midday, Secretary of State Collin Powell met with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

COIN POWELL:

We spoke about terrorism at considerable length. I was very pleased to receive from the minister expressions of condolences for those who lost their life at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon last week. Deputy Secretary Armitage called me from Moscow this morning to also tell me what it was like in Moscow to have Russians citizens coming by our embassy to place flowers and candles and otherwise remember those who lost lives.

IGOR IVANOV, Foreign Minister, Russia:

(speaking through interpreter) The international terrorism have caused a blatant challenge to all civilized humanity. (speaking through interpreter) This reaffirms once again the necessity to join efforts of the entire international community to fight against new challenges and threats, including in the first place the threat of international terrorism.

TERENCE SMITH:

Late in the afternoon, the administration received, as expected, similar words of support from Germany's Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer.

JOSCHKA FISCHER, Foreign Minister, Germany:

We are in full solidarity with the American people. This is not only a rational or a political question; this comes from the deepest of our hearts.

TERENCE SMITH:

Early this evening, President Bush pointed to yesterday's proposed cease-fire in the Middle East, saying it was a positive development that had come out of last week's tragedy.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

I'm pleased with the fact that Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon have taken positive steps toward bringing peace to the region. I think we have an opportunity to refashion the thinking and… Between Pakistan and India. I think there's some interesting opportunities to shake terrorism loose from sponsor states.

TERENCE SMITH:

The President said he would provide more details on what he called the battle to maintain freedom in his address to the joint session of Congress tomorrow night.