Powell, Musharraf agree on Taliban moderates

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf agreed Tuesday that moderate officials from Afghanistan's radical Taliban regime should be allowed to serve in a post-Taliban government.

Powell, who is on a three-nation Asia tour, said Taliban officials who signal a willingness to serve in a broad-based successor government should not be automatically excluded.

"You can't ethnically cleanse Afghanistan after this is over, but you can certainly get rid of this particular regime that has driven this country into such devastation," Powell said. Some of the more moderate elements in the Taliban may be willing "to participate in a different kind of government where the rights of all are respected," he said.

Musharraf, whose government supported the Taliban militia in the past and who is under great political pressure, said a representative post-Taliban government could include "moderate Taliban leaders."

Powell and Musharraf spoke at a news conference as the secretary of state was winding up a 22-hour visit to Pakistan.

Musharraf's support of the U.S.-led coalition has infuriated leaders of militant Islamic parties, who say he has betrayed the nation. They have directed large, sometimes violent protests in recent days, though only several thousand of Pakistan's 145 million people have participated. Muslim leaders staged a partially successful nationwide general strike Monday to coincide with Powell's arrival.

The Pakistani leader said his government will assist the U.S. anti-terrorism effort in Afghanistan for as long as it takes to be successful.

"We will carry on cooperating so long as the operation lasts," he said.

Musharraf ingratiated himself with the Bush administration early on by agreeing to cooperate with the U.S. effort to root out Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network from Afghanistan. The Pakistani leader acted within days of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

In a risky stand for Musharraf, given the many Pakistanis who support the Taliban and bin Laden, Musharraf agreed to share intelligence with the United States, allow U.S. use of Pakistani air space and provide logistical support.

He said Tuesday that his commitment was contingent on Pakistan not being asked to go beyond these three areas.

At the same time, Musharraf expressed hope the operation in Afghanistan will be short -- a point with which Powell concurred. Powell also noted that President Bush has said the anti-terrorist campaign in Afghanistan will continue as long as it takes to achieve its objectives. The United States began military operations in Afghanistan on Oct. 7.

Musharraf's pledges have rejuvenated U.S. relations with Pakistan, which have been strained for years by Pakistan's pursuit of nuclear weapons and the coup that Musharraf staged two years ago against a democratically elected government.

A senior official traveling with Powell said U.S. financial cooperation, coupled with International Monetary Fund assistance, will lift direct and indirect assistance to Pakistan to more than $1 billion. This assumes that Congress will ease curbs on $500 million in economic assistance programs.

In Washington, the House gave final approval Tuesday to lifting the sanctions, which will occur after Bush signs the bill into law.

After the news conference, Powell left for India where he will meet today with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Part of Powell's objective in Pakistan and India is to convince the two nuclear powers not to allow their differences over Kashmir to get out of hand.