JULY 24 UPDATE ON GRAND JIRGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 014209 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2011 TAGS: PK PREL PGOV SUBJECT: JULY 24 UPDATE ON GRAND JIRGA REF: ISLAMABAD 13677 Classified By: Peter W. Bodde, DCM, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Consulate Peshawar and Post have confirmed July 23 press stories that militants in Waziristan have extended a one-month ceasefire with Government of Pakistan (GOP) army troops until August 25. On July 21, militants also released four Frontier Corps scouts that were being held captive. ¶2. (C) As a reciprocating gesture of goodwill, the GOP has released 32 militants from jail, removed six Frontier Corps checkpoints in North Waziristan, and restored the rights and privileges of the local tribesmen. ¶3. (C) According to an Embassy contact who is a reporter based in the tribal areas, the Grand Jirga has asked the local Taliban militants in North Waziristan to expel foreigners. Any foreigner wishing to stay in Pakistan would have to register with the government and not engage in any cross-border activity. The local Taliban have formed an eight-member council to negotiate with the Grand Jirga on issues pertaining to harboring foreigners, cross border infiltration and attacks on the GOP. ¶4. (C) Comment. The Jirga seems to be getting off to a good start, with both the GOP and militants trying to show good faith. The key test will be the GOP's ability to win compliance on their demands regarding foreign terrorists and cross border infiltration. President Musharraf has been clear on these points. In his July 20 televised address to the nation, President Musharraf extended his "full support" to the Grand Jirga but evinced no flexibility on these demands: "Let me give a bottom-line... no foreigner (terrorist) would be allowed to remain on the soil of Pakistan. Either he should leave this place, or surrender and live peacefully there, otherwise he would be killed. Secondly, no person would go to Afghanistan from Pakistan to take part in war and conflict there. Thirdly, this Talibanization, which I called as a backward culture should not be imposed on others." End comment. CROCKER