WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush has ordered the immediate lifting of sanctions against India and Pakistan, imposed in 1998 after the two countries tested nuclear weapons. (Full story)
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.
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Latest developments
President Bush on Saturday signed into law an emergency aid package for the U.S. airline industry, saying that "the terrorists who attacked our country on September 11th will not shut down our vital businesses or thwart our way of life." The measure provides $5 billion in direct federal aid and $10 billion in loan guarantees for an industry that has announced tens of thousands of layoffs since the terrorist hijackings.
President Bush was at Camp David, Maryland, on Saturday where he held a video conference with his national security advisers. He also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for about an hour in what was described as a "constructive" conversation.
An administration official told CNN on Saturday that Bush plans to sign an executive order freezing the U.S. assets of specific suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations. The official said the order could be signed as early as this weekend but would not confirm that Osama bin Laden or his organization, al Qaeda, would be on that list. The Bush administration has labeled bin Laden the "prime suspect" behind last week's deadly terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
On Sunday, the president will be joined by members of the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp David for a ceremony to raise the American flag to full staff. The president ordered flags on all federal buildings to be at half-staff through September 22 following the terrorist attacks on September 11. The flag at the White House was raised Saturday night.
Time Magazine reports that U.S. law enforcement officials found a manual on the operation of cropdusting equipment during a search of a suspected terrorist hideout, Time magazine reports. Government sources told the magazine the U.S. suspects that members of bin Laden's group may have planned to use cropdusting planes to spread chemical or biological weapons.
A multi-faith service in honor of the missing and the dead is planned for Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium in New York. Officials in New York said the chances of finding anyone alive in the rubble of the World Trade Center is very small but that rescue workers remain hopeful. Teams have found a number of open spaces and air pockets in the WTC's basement areas, and they hope they will find survivors in similar areas. More than 6,500 people are believed dead in the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Miss Oregon Katie Harman, a college student who aspires to a career in bioethics, was crowned Miss America 2002 on Saturday night. Harman, 21, outshone 50 other women in a pageant that celebrated patriotism and mourned lives lost in the terrorist attacks less than two weeks earlier. Host Tony Danza opened the live telecast with a somber monologue, saying contestants and pageant organizers decided to go ahead with the pageant while paying homage to the victims and tapping into the nation's resurgent patriotism. (Full story)
The Pentagon announced Saturday it had called up an additional 5,172 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve troops, bringing the total number of reservists activated to 10,303. The latest call-up includes more than 3,000 Guard members and reservists who will provide air refueling and joint communications to deploying troops.
New York Gov. George Pataki announced Saturday that the New York State Department of Labor has secured $25 million in emergency funds to help people and businesses affected by the World Trade Center disaster. The money will be used to help not-for-profit groups, hire temporary workers to help with recovery work, and to provide job training and other services to people affected by the attacks.
Pakistani sources tell CNN that U.S. warplanes and troops will only be allowed to be based in Pakistan as a last resort. The officials said Pakistan would not use its forces or equipment in any attacks against Afghanistan. (Full story)
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted strict limits on the use of private aircraft Saturday, allowing sightseeing tours and flight schools to resume business. But aircraft operating under "visual flight rules" still are prohibited from flying within 25 nautical miles of New York and Washington.
