Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD29
2007-01-03 13:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

SENIOR PAKISTAN SENATOR ASKS FOR HELP IN REACHING

Tags:  PREL PK AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHIL #0029 0031300
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O 031300Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5811
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RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY
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RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY 0878
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 3224
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 3937
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 0946
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 3598
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 9209
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000029 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PK AF
SUBJECT: SENIOR PAKISTAN SENATOR ASKS FOR HELP IN REACHING
OUT TO AFGHAN COUNTERPARTS

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 22303


B. DOHERTY-ROSENBERRY E-MAIL 4 DECEMBER 06

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000029

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PK AF
SUBJECT: SENIOR PAKISTAN SENATOR ASKS FOR HELP IN REACHING
OUT TO AFGHAN COUNTERPARTS

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 22303


B. DOHERTY-ROSENBERRY E-MAIL 4 DECEMBER 06

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),
(d)


1. (C) On December 28, Pakistan Muslim League Secretary
General and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Mushahid Hussain Sayed told poloffs that his
attempts to make progress on starting a regular parliamentary
exchange with his Afghan counterparts (as discussed in ref A)
are going nowhere. The senator raised his invitation with
outgoing Afghan Ambassador Tarzi in mid-December, discussing
it publicly during a press event highlighting Pak-Afghan
relations. Mushahid Hussain wishes to establish regular
interaction between Pakistani and Afghan parliamentarians. He
specifically requested USG assistance in encouraging Kabul to
engage on his proposed initiative.


2. (C) Mushahid Hussain said that it is unfortunate that
negative public rhetoric from Afghan officials increased in
December. In contrast to India, he felt that few Pakistani
officials had sufficiently strong personal relationships with
their Afghan colleagues to feel comfortable enough to reach
out directly to dampen the public criticism.


3. (C) Comment: When Mushahid Hussain first discussed his
ideas on cross-border parliamentary outreach, poloffs were
supportive but emphasized the importance of direct dialogue
with Afghan officials (Ref A). As it now seems that his
attempts to elicit a response have fallen flat, USG
intervention may help. There is real political will on the
part of Pakistan's Senate Foreign Relations Committee to
reach out, an exercise that could broaden the bilateral
dialogue and avoid putting all our eggs in the already heavy
cross-border jirga basket. End Comment.


4. (C) Post has been in contact with Embassy Kabul seeking
guidance on how best to link Senator Mushahid Hussain to a
receptive counterpart in the Afghan parliament and will
continue to do so.
CROCKER