Deputy Secretary Armitage's Travel to Pakistan and AfghanistanDeputy Secretary Richard Armitage visited Pakistan and Afghanistan, October 3 – 7, 2003. He met with President Musharraf, President Karzai, and other counterparts and other officials to discuss regional and bilateral issues, U.S. assistance programs, the cooperation that we have with Pakistan and with Afghanistan in the war on terror. In Islamabad, he discussed the sustained efforts to assure security along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as regional stability issues. In Kabul, he reinforced our commitment to a secure Afghanistan; our support for full implementation of the Bonn agreement, including the constitutional Loya Jirga that's planned for December; and for the elections next year. He talked about the accelerated efforts that the United States will be making along with the international community to assist in reconstruction. Assitant Secretary Rocca accompanied him. Remarks by Deputy Secretary Armitage |