Reporter snubbed over Musharraf jibe
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday snubbed an Indian reporter who is known for asking critical Pakistan-specific questions at White House and State Department briefings.
Raghubir Goyal, publisher and editor of India Globe, a local publication, irritated White House press secretary Tony Snow when he claimed that ââ¬Åmany peopleââ¬Â in Pakistan believe that the terrorist attacks on President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s life were a ââ¬Åcreation to get US sympathy and moneyââ¬Â. Maintaining that the Pakistani leader had not helped the US, he asked if President Bush still trusts him.
Snow snapped back, ââ¬ÅGoyal, you have just given a sermon against President Musharrafââ¬Â. When the correspondent replied that he was ââ¬Ånot against him (Musharraf)ââ¬Â, Snow dismissed it by saying, ââ¬ÅYes, it isââ¬Â. Goyal next claimed that President Musharraf is ââ¬Åmy friendââ¬Â and ââ¬ÅI know him personallyââ¬Â, to which Snowââ¬â¢s reaction was, ââ¬ÅLet me put it this way: I canââ¬â¢t respond ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve now concocted a theory where there are fake attacks on him, and I canââ¬â¢t help you outââ¬Â.
The Indian correspondent, who was not about to give up, asked again if President Bush still trust his Pakistani counterpart. Snowââ¬â¢s answer was, ââ¬ÅThe president understands that the two leaders (Musharraf and Karzai) sometimes clash, but on the other hand, theyââ¬â¢ve got a common interest in dealing with the problem of terror in the region. And theyââ¬â¢re going to continue to ââ¬â theyââ¬â¢re going to work together. There are going to be some challenges in the bilateral relationship, but in the end, having a large and vigorous terror network is in the interests of neither.ââ¬Â
To another question about President Musharraf and the war in Afghanistan, Snow said the US is concerned about cross-border attacks into Afghanistan from Pakistan, adding, ââ¬Åand so is President Musharraf. It is very important to try to deal with the violence coming across the Pakistani border into Afghanistan for the purposes of supporting those who are trying to bring down the government of Afghanistanââ¬Â. Asked if President Musharraf was ââ¬Ådoing enough,ââ¬Â Snow answered that the US is continuing to work with President Musharraf.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\17\story_17-2-2007_pg1_6
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday snubbed an Indian reporter who is known for asking critical Pakistan-specific questions at White House and State Department briefings.
Raghubir Goyal, publisher and editor of India Globe, a local publication, irritated White House press secretary Tony Snow when he claimed that ââ¬Åmany peopleââ¬Â in Pakistan believe that the terrorist attacks on President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s life were a ââ¬Åcreation to get US sympathy and moneyââ¬Â. Maintaining that the Pakistani leader had not helped the US, he asked if President Bush still trusts him.
Snow snapped back, ââ¬ÅGoyal, you have just given a sermon against President Musharrafââ¬Â. When the correspondent replied that he was ââ¬Ånot against him (Musharraf)ââ¬Â, Snow dismissed it by saying, ââ¬ÅYes, it isââ¬Â. Goyal next claimed that President Musharraf is ââ¬Åmy friendââ¬Â and ââ¬ÅI know him personallyââ¬Â, to which Snowââ¬â¢s reaction was, ââ¬ÅLet me put it this way: I canââ¬â¢t respond ââ¬â youââ¬â¢ve now concocted a theory where there are fake attacks on him, and I canââ¬â¢t help you outââ¬Â.
The Indian correspondent, who was not about to give up, asked again if President Bush still trust his Pakistani counterpart. Snowââ¬â¢s answer was, ââ¬ÅThe president understands that the two leaders (Musharraf and Karzai) sometimes clash, but on the other hand, theyââ¬â¢ve got a common interest in dealing with the problem of terror in the region. And theyââ¬â¢re going to continue to ââ¬â theyââ¬â¢re going to work together. There are going to be some challenges in the bilateral relationship, but in the end, having a large and vigorous terror network is in the interests of neither.ââ¬Â
To another question about President Musharraf and the war in Afghanistan, Snow said the US is concerned about cross-border attacks into Afghanistan from Pakistan, adding, ââ¬Åand so is President Musharraf. It is very important to try to deal with the violence coming across the Pakistani border into Afghanistan for the purposes of supporting those who are trying to bring down the government of Afghanistanââ¬Â. Asked if President Musharraf was ââ¬Ådoing enough,ââ¬Â Snow answered that the US is continuing to work with President Musharraf.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\17\story_17-2-2007_pg1_6
