Rather he will go to continue his consistent efforts to advance the interests I outlined above, as he has over the last seven years and as he did in his meeting with then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Blair House last 4th of July. The understanding that he reached with Sharif that day played a key role in ending a tense conflict in Kargil. We are concerned that, through misunderstandings or gradual escalation, the two countries could once again find themselves in conflict. The President has a responsibility to our nation and to the world to do what he can to avoid such a dangerous development. The President believes that it's crucial that he carry a message of restraint and dialogue to both capitals on this trip.
Terrorism is another vital American interest at play in Pakistan and next-door in Afghanistan.
The terrorists in their camps in Afghanistan, especially Usama bin-Laden, all too clearly aimed directly at America and American lives. This will be high on the President's agenda. Democracy in Pakistan was interrupted on October 12th last year. Some have urged the President to avoid Pakistan to demonstrate our displeasure at the military coup there. And it would dishearten those in Pakistan who have stood for secular, Western-oriented democracy for 50 years.