TERRORIST ATTACK ON SYMBOL OF KASHMIR BUS

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002604

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PK IN
SUBJECT: TERRORIST ATTACK ON SYMBOL OF KASHMIR BUS

REF: A. NEW DELHI 061237Z

B. NEW DELHI 2270


1. This is an action request. See para 3.


2. The April 6 fidayeen (suicide) attack in Srinagar (Ref A)
was targeted at the most significant Indo-Pak CBM in years,
the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus, which is scheduled to travel
April 7 for the first time in 58 years between Indian and
Pakistani Kashmir. This is the latest in an escalating
series of threats (Ref B) by terrorists seeking to prevent
the bus, which enjoys massive popular support in J&K, from
starting service. Politicians from across the Kashmiri
political spectrum have condemned the attack, and insisted
that the bus must go on April 7.


3. We request that the Department Spokesman issue the
strongest possible condemnation of this attack, and provide
the following suggested language:

Begin suggested press guidance:

-- The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms
the April 6 terrorist attack on the State Road Transport
Corporation building and the Tourist Reception Center in
Srinagar.

-- This was a cynical attack on one of the most powerful
symbols of rapproachement between India and Pakistan, the
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, which is scheduled to begin
service April 7 for the first time since 1947.

-- We again applaud the leaders of India and Pakistan for
their statesmanship in agreeing to this major step in mutual
understanding.

-- The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus has captured the
imaginations of tens of thousands of Kashmiris on both sides
of the Line of Control, and of Indians and Pakistanis more
broadly, as a symbol of peace.

-- The bus is a major humanitarian undertaking designed to
enable family reunification and people-to-people contact
between Kashmiris, as well as Indians and Pakistanis.
Terrorist groups attempting to stop this bus from plying are
on the wrong side of history and will find that their efforts
will fail.

-- We offer our condolences to those civilians wounded in the
attack, and our strong support to the governments of India
and Pakistan as they work to ensure that this dream becomes a
reality.

End suggested guidance.
MULFORD