Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2835
2007-06-26 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN PEACE JIRGA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002835
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AF
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN PEACE JIRGA
REF: KABUL 2005
Classified By: Charge Peter Bodde for reasons 1.5 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002835
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AF
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN PEACE JIRGA
REF: KABUL 2005
Classified By: Charge Peter Bodde for reasons 1.5 (b),(d).
1. (C) In response to reftel, PolOff spoke June 25 with
Minister of Tourism and Culture GG Jamal, one of five members
of the Pakistan jirga commission. Jamal reported that the
two commissions had not discussed the duration of the
upcoming jirga. Under jirga tradition, he said, such a
conversation would be inappropriate, as only the full jirga
can decide such questions. That said, the Pakistani
commissioners are mindful of what could happen once 700
participants are given free access to a microphone. The
commission is encouraging participants from this side of the
border to choose designated spokesmen on various issues so
that people do not make the same statements over and over.
2. (C) According to Jamal, the working plan is for the
jirga to agree upon a set of issues to be pursued by a
binational working committee, which then will meet regularly
to develop suggested outcomes. Once the committee finishes
its task, the jirga will reconvene to discuss the proposal.
3. (C) Reftel reports that Karzai is claiming that Pakistan
will not include leaders from the Awami National Party, the
Pakhtoon Milli Party, or the coalition of religious parties.
Jamal has assured us that all parties are represented on the
list the commission presented to President Musharraf for
approval. Indeed, the draft list includes all the ardent
Pashtun nationalists reftel states Karzai would like to
attend the jirga (Asfandyar Wali Khan, Afriasiab Khattak, and
Mahmoud Khan Achekzai). That said, Jamal could not guarantee
the President would approve all three. (Comment: Karzai's
interventions on this issue are most unhelpful and serve only
to fuel Pakistani fears that the jirga will discuss Durand
Line issues or Pashtun independence. We understand that
President Musharraf was so upset by Karzai's invitation to
Awami National Party Leader Asfandyar Wali Khan to
participate in the jirga as a guest of Afghanistan that
Musharraf raised the invitation letter with Secretary Rice.
End Comment.)
4. (C) Also on the draft participant list is the Leader of
the Opposition, Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman (head of JUI-F),a
vocal and strident critic of the U.S. presence in
Afghanistan. Reftel states that Karzai believes Fazl should
be a jirga member. We cannot predict where President
Musharraf will come down on this question.
5. (C) Comment: It appears the fault lines of the last six
months continue. The Pakistani commissioners want a jirga in
the tradition of Pashtun Wali: egalitarian, inclusive, and
male. Many of our Pashtun contacts complain to us that the
Afghan side seems to expecting something closer to a
conference than a traditional jirga. Jamal has warned us
from the beginning that, regardless of what Karzai thinks, it
is impossible to script a true jirga. People will say what
they want to say. That said, he and the Interior Minister
are committed to making this jirga a success and to working
toward peace in the Pashtun area. We are convinced they
understand the importance we place on a successful jirga.
More importantly, they understand that President Karzai needs
a positive outcome for his own political reasons;
commissioners tell us they are motivated by that fact more
than any other.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AF
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN PEACE JIRGA
REF: KABUL 2005
Classified By: Charge Peter Bodde for reasons 1.5 (b),(d).
1. (C) In response to reftel, PolOff spoke June 25 with
Minister of Tourism and Culture GG Jamal, one of five members
of the Pakistan jirga commission. Jamal reported that the
two commissions had not discussed the duration of the
upcoming jirga. Under jirga tradition, he said, such a
conversation would be inappropriate, as only the full jirga
can decide such questions. That said, the Pakistani
commissioners are mindful of what could happen once 700
participants are given free access to a microphone. The
commission is encouraging participants from this side of the
border to choose designated spokesmen on various issues so
that people do not make the same statements over and over.
2. (C) According to Jamal, the working plan is for the
jirga to agree upon a set of issues to be pursued by a
binational working committee, which then will meet regularly
to develop suggested outcomes. Once the committee finishes
its task, the jirga will reconvene to discuss the proposal.
3. (C) Reftel reports that Karzai is claiming that Pakistan
will not include leaders from the Awami National Party, the
Pakhtoon Milli Party, or the coalition of religious parties.
Jamal has assured us that all parties are represented on the
list the commission presented to President Musharraf for
approval. Indeed, the draft list includes all the ardent
Pashtun nationalists reftel states Karzai would like to
attend the jirga (Asfandyar Wali Khan, Afriasiab Khattak, and
Mahmoud Khan Achekzai). That said, Jamal could not guarantee
the President would approve all three. (Comment: Karzai's
interventions on this issue are most unhelpful and serve only
to fuel Pakistani fears that the jirga will discuss Durand
Line issues or Pashtun independence. We understand that
President Musharraf was so upset by Karzai's invitation to
Awami National Party Leader Asfandyar Wali Khan to
participate in the jirga as a guest of Afghanistan that
Musharraf raised the invitation letter with Secretary Rice.
End Comment.)
4. (C) Also on the draft participant list is the Leader of
the Opposition, Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman (head of JUI-F),a
vocal and strident critic of the U.S. presence in
Afghanistan. Reftel states that Karzai believes Fazl should
be a jirga member. We cannot predict where President
Musharraf will come down on this question.
5. (C) Comment: It appears the fault lines of the last six
months continue. The Pakistani commissioners want a jirga in
the tradition of Pashtun Wali: egalitarian, inclusive, and
male. Many of our Pashtun contacts complain to us that the
Afghan side seems to expecting something closer to a
conference than a traditional jirga. Jamal has warned us
from the beginning that, regardless of what Karzai thinks, it
is impossible to script a true jirga. People will say what
they want to say. That said, he and the Interior Minister
are committed to making this jirga a success and to working
toward peace in the Pashtun area. We are convinced they
understand the importance we place on a successful jirga.
More importantly, they understand that President Karzai needs
a positive outcome for his own political reasons;
commissioners tell us they are motivated by that fact more
than any other.
PATTERSON