Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD22323
2006-12-06 12:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN'S ELITE REACT DIFFERENTLY TO PRESIDENT

Tags:  PREL PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 1520
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 022323 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S ELITE REACT DIFFERENTLY TO PRESIDENT
MUSHARRAF'S PROPOSED KASHMIR SOLUTION

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 022323

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S ELITE REACT DIFFERENTLY TO PRESIDENT
MUSHARRAF'S PROPOSED KASHMIR SOLUTION

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) On December 4, Indian television network NDTV
interviewed President Musharraf in Islamabad for an Indian
audience. Although his remarks were reported widely in the
international press the day after the interview, Pakistan's
news media was slower in picking up the story. During the
interview, Musharraf said that Pakistan would be willing to
give up its claim on Kashmir if India agreed to allow for
far-reaching self-governance for the region. NDTV reported
his proposed solution as including four points: (1) no
changes in the boundaries of Kashmir; (2) make borders and
the line of control irrelevant; (3) staggered
demilitarization; and (4) autonomy or self-governance with a
joint supervision mechanism.


2. (C) Reaction to Musharraf's interview among the
intellectual and political elite in Islamabad covered a broad
spectrum, from hopeful to skeptical to resentful. An
academic told PolAsst that Musharraf's suggestions are not
much different than in the past, but his overture should be
viewed as a wish to strengthen Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh among the hawkish circles of the Indian establishment
to make progress. More than one politician viewed
Musharraf's statement as a trial balloon to see what the
Indian side would do next: "I personally do not give much
importance to what Musharraf has said... I would not like to
think that Musharraf will simply give up on the geographical
territory of Kashmir," said one Embassy contact. Sardar
Amjad Yousaf, Vice President of Musharraf's own ruling
Pakistan Muslim League took a darker view. Yousaf said that
Musharraf's previous diplomatic overtures regarding Kashmir
were a failed attempt to get the West's support for
Pakistan's position, and that Musharraf continues to try to
make progress now regardless of where the "progress" will
lead Pakistan. "I think his statements on the Kashmir issue
portray him as a frustrated dictator," Yousaf said.


3. (C) The Kashmiris themselves seemed to resent the
bargaining going on over their heads. Haji Rafiq Dar,
spokesman of the Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, was clear
about his group's interests: "Now what is most important is
that neither side should ignore the aspirations of the
Kashmiri people... We take Musharraf's words as the beginning
of a political process and that is about it." Sardar Khalid
Ibrahim, President of Jammu Kashmir People's Party and AJK
Legislative Assembly member, put it more bluntly: "The idea
of joint supervision is absolutely absurd... we cannot and
will not allow this."


4. (C) Note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has not
issued an official statement contextualizing Musharraf's
remarks. On December 6, MFA spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told
the DCM that Musharraf broke no new ground with his remarks.
If any headline should be made from Musharraf's interview,
Aslam said, it should be Musharraf's call for flexibility
from both sides to come to a solution. End Note.


5. (C) Comment: Musharraf's statements are broadly consistent
with what he has said in the past. Nevertheless, his
reaching out now reflects his continued commitment and his
personal desire to reach some kind of solution on Kashmir.
Thus far, his style of floating his ideas and thoughts in the
media has not endeared him to domestic audience, his Indian
interlocutors, or to Kashmiris. End Comment.
CROCKER