Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD3576
2006-03-04 02:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

KARACHI BOMBING: CONDOLENCES AND CONDEMNATIONS

Tags:  PK PHUM PGOV PTER 
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VZCZCXRO7837
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3576 0630251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 040251Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1332
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 7650
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5849
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 4694
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9809
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 5618
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 7788
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY 0641
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 3347
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 2979
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003576 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PK PHUM PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: KARACHI BOMBING: CONDOLENCES AND CONDEMNATIONS
POUR IN

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003576

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PK PHUM PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: KARACHI BOMBING: CONDOLENCES AND CONDEMNATIONS
POUR IN


1. Summary. Pakistani politicians at all levels--from
President Musharraf and PM Aziz to a wide-spectrum of
political party representatives--have reached out to US
Embassy and Consulate officials to offer their condolences
and express their condemnation of the 2 March bombing outside
of the US Consulate General in Karachi. Reactions have been
uniform, regretting the loss of lives, vehemently critical of
the bomber's actions, and simultaneously concerned about the
bombing's impact on Pakistan's image abroad. End Summary.

REGRET, SORROW, AND ANGER FROM MOST POLITICAL PARTIES...
-------------- --------------

2. Publicly and privately, a spectrum of the Mission's
political and civil society contacts have reached out to
express their sincere grief over the death of Karachi
Consulate personnel. Several called in to express "sincere
condolences" and concern over the continuing "menace" of
terrorism and sabotage on Pakistan's public image. Others
used the media to convey their condolences and their anger at
those responsible for the attack. Thus far, condolence calls
have come in from over 25 officials but there has been a
notable absence from JI and PML-N thus far. A snapshot of
callers includes:

--President Musharraf
--Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, PML
--Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool
--Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Chairperson of the PPP
--PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain
--Riyaz Fatiyana, PML MNA
--Kashmala Tariq, PML MNA
--Mufti Abrar Ahmed, Private Secretary to Maulana
Fazlur Rahman (Jamait-e Ulema-e Islam Fazlur Rehman Faction)
--Sahibzada Abdul Khair Muhammad Zubair, VP Jamait-e
Ulema-e Pakistan
--Jalal Naqvi, Tehrik-e Islami Pakistan
--Inayat Ali Shakir, Tehrike Akhuwat-e Islami Pakistan
(Shia)
--Mufti Munib-ur Rehman, President, Tanzeem-ul Madaris
(Barelvi madrassa board)
--Mehboob Sada, Christian Studies Center
--Om Parkash Narain, Chairman, Pakistan Minorities Forum

...AND CONCERN FOR PAKISTAN'S IMAGE
--------------

3. Government politicians and several civil society
representatives also pointedly noted in their messages their
concern that the bombings could further tarnish Pakistan's
delicate image abroad or harm US-Pakistan relations.
President Musharraf and PM Aziz both made a point of telling
reporters that the "sensless acts" would not deter Pakistan's
fight against terrorism and expressed concern that the
terorists were "defaming" Pakistan's soft image. PML Law and
Justice Minister Wasi Zafar said that the bombing was
intended to sabotage President Bush's visit to Pakistan, and
told reporters that the bombing reinforced the fact that "the
menace of terrorism needs to be wiped out." Lastly, Sindh
Chief Minister Ishrat-ul Abad and Governor Ghulam Arbab Rahim
told reporters to "tell the world that no Muslim considers
terrorism a correct path."
CROCKER