Bush lifts India, Pakistan sanctions

Pakistan's President, Gen. Musharraf, has been working hard to convince Pakistanis he is right to support the U.S.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has ordered the immediate lifting of sanctions against India and Pakistan, imposed in 1998 after the two countries tested nuclear weapons.

Both nations have agreed to support the U.S. campaign against terror.

The sanctions included a ban on U.S. economic aid and a bar on selling or sharing so-called "dual use" technologies that had both civilian and nuclear-military uses.

In a memorandum to the Secretary of State and a formal notification to Congress, Bush said it was "in the national security interests of the United States" that he lift the sanctions.

The United States has asked for Pakistan's assistance in possible military operations against global terrorism.

Pakistan borders Afghanistan, where accused terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is believed to be living.

President Bush has called bin Laden a prime suspect in the deadly terror attacks against the United States on September 11.

Senior Pakistani government officials said they have told the United States no Pakistani forces or equipment will be used in any attack the United States might launch against Afghanistan.

Shared intelligence

Pakistan has agreed that the United States can use Pakistani air space and has agreed to share intelligence information.

Bush says lifting sanctions is in the U.S. national interest

But the officials said they would allow the United States to base troops and equipment at bases somewhere inside Pakistan only as a last resort.

They said they expected the United States to keep a low profile and to be aware of the pressure on the government from hard-line Muslims who support the Taliban regime.

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, has announced Pakistan is standing with the United States in its campaign against global terrorism, but the decision has remained controversial.

Demonstrations continued Saturday against Musharraf's decision.

In Peshawar, protests were said to be peaceful, but on Friday they turned violent in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, and three people were killed.