United States Expresses Support for Pakistan After Bombing

23 September 2008

(Bush and Zardari meet to discuss economic, security issues at U.N.)

By Merle D. Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — President Bush met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the United Nations to discuss the September 20 truck bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and review relations between the United States and Pakistan.

“I want to express our deepest condolences to the [families] of those who died as a result of the terrorist attack in Islamabad,” Bush said during remarks with Zardari in New York on September 23.  “I know that your heart went out to the families of those who suffer and so does the collective heart of the American people; we stand with you.”

Bush acknowledged that he would discuss security issues with Zardari, especially the ongoing counterterrorism efforts against al-Qaida and remnants of the Taliban regime that have established strongholds in the mountainous region along the Afghan-Pakistan border from which to stage attacks in Afghanistan and bombings in Pakistan.

A truck blast outside the six-story Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on September 20 killed at least 53 people and wounded at least 266, according to Interior Ministry officials.  Two Americans were among the dead.

Since that attack, Pakistani security forces have killed more than 60 insurgents in the northwest tribal regions in a drive to deny safe havens to al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents.

Bush said the United States regards Pakistan as a key ally.  “We want there to be economic prosperity and we can work together,” the president said.

“And your words have been very strong about Pakistan's sovereign right and sovereign duty to protect your country, and the United States wants to help,” Bush added.

Zardari thanked the United States for its condolences and thoughts, saying: “You prove to the world that your heart is in there for us Pakistanis. We respect your feelings; we respect the American ideals.”

While there are issues and problems to be resolved, “we will solve them and we will rise to the occasion,” Zardari said. “We should come together in this hard time and we will share the burden and the responsibility with the world.”

Terrorism specialists and government officials have said the Marriott truck bombing is consistent with the type of attacks carried out by al-Qaida operatives and the Taliban, though no one has come forward to claim credit for the attack, according to the Associated Press.