Text: Bush, Musharraf News Conference

U.S. President George W. Bush and Pakistan's leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, left, answer questions on the war on terrorism, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite - AP)

(inaudible) I would like to, first of all, express my gratitude, and also on behalf of my entire delegation, for the warmth and hospitality that we have received and many courtesies that are being extended to us since our arrival in the United States.

I had an excellent meeting with President Bush. We, first of all, reinforced our trust and confidence in each other. I trust President Bush and I have total confidence in him that he desires well for Pakistan and for our region.

And I trust him also that he's trying to do his best for bringing peace to the world.

And I trust him also that he's trying to resolve the core issue of the Palestinian dispute.

We discussed the entire gambit of relations bilaterally, between the United States and Pakistan, and also in our region and on international issues.

Bilaterally, we reinforced our desire to have this relationship on a long-term basis, broad-based, and a strategic relationship.

When we are talking of broad-based, whatever the president has said, it involves all aspects which we discussed. It has its political and diplomatic aspects, which we reinforced; and, then, our desire to fight terrorism and succeed against terrorism.

Other than that, issues in the social sector, on the economy; whatever assistance is being given to us; whatever assistance we require, our requests on that, especially in the field of trade and investment, which are the main areas which we require assistance in.

Otherwise, on a broad-based level, assistance in the education and health sector; on the defense side, the F-16 deal _ all this was discussed.

On the regional issues, on the international plain, we did discuss the core issue of the Palestinian dispute, which needs to be resolved and being at the core.

And I am extremely glad that the president has a desire and a will to resolve this Palestinian dispute. I wish him very well, because that lies at the heart of all problems; even at the heart of terrorism and extremism.

MUSHARRAF: On the regional side, in our region, we also discussed the rapprochement going on between Pakistan and India. And I proudly told the president that we had _ I had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana. And it was step forward toward resolution of disputes between India and Pakistan. I did tell him on the way forward that we are moving on the Kashmir dispute especially.