Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD3291
2007-07-30 14:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
GROWING PERCEPTION THAT U.S. WILL ABANDON PAKISTAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003291
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017
TAGS: PK PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: GROWING PERCEPTION THAT U.S. WILL ABANDON PAKISTAN
Classified By: Anne Patterson, For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003291
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017
TAGS: PK PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: GROWING PERCEPTION THAT U.S. WILL ABANDON PAKISTAN
Classified By: Anne Patterson, For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary: News that the U.S. House and Senate had
approved House Resolution 1 with language requiring the
President report annually on Pakistan's efforts in the War on
Terror predictably caused a stir in Islamabad. The media's
interpretation of the bill narrowly focused on the perceived
"certification requirement." Comparisons with the Pressler
Amendment came fast and furious in newspapers and on
television July 27 and 28. (Note: Aside from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, government officials did not
comment publicly on the resolution. End Note.) Combined
with select coverage of recent statements by senior U.S.
officials, the passage of the resolution fed the
interpretation endorsed by some pundits that the U.S. is
distancing itself from Pakistan in its hour of need. Most
prominent newspapers (Urdu and English) also speculated that
the U.S. was contemplating unilateral military action in the
FATA. End Summary.
2. (C) During a private meeting with the Ambassador on July
27, Prime Minister Aziz raised recent statements by U.S.
officials about Pakistan's efforts in the War on Terror,
emphasizing the negative impact these statements were having
on counter-terror cooperation. The Ambassador explained that
many of the statements - by Under Secretary Burns, Fran
Townsend, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director James
Clapper - were being quoted out of context and exaggerated in
the media. The Prime Minister said he understood the press
was over-reacting but that both countries needed to manage
media reactions during their respective campaign seasons. It
was difficult, he added, for politicians and high officials
to respond to sharp questions about U.S. aims to "invade
Pakistan."
3. (U) President Musharraf, Foreign Minister Kasuri, and
leading Senators talked to the media about recent U.S.
statements on Pakistan on July 27. Musharraf said Pakistani
forces were "fully capable" of pursuing extremists in FATA
and didn't need intervention from the U.S. During a press
conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband on Friday, Foreign Minister Kasuri said recent U.S.
statements were "irresponsible and counter-productive."
Pakistan's Senate Foreign Relations Committee, headed by
Secretary General of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League
SIPDIS
Mushaid Hussain, called for an end to Pakistan's cooperation
in the War on Terror in the event of unilateral U.S. or NATO
military action in Pakistani territory.
4. (C) Comment: With the end of the Chief Justice case,
election season has kicked into high gear. Sensitivity to
the media's select coverage of U.S. statements and
legislative action will increase in the first few months, as
Pakistani officials and politicians seize opportunities to
stoutly defend Pakistan's sovereignty. Acknowledgment of
Pakistan's sacrifices in the War on Terror will help to
counter the perception that the U.S. is distancing itself
from Pakistan, especially as select press coverage of House
Resolution 1 stokes the anxieties of Pakistanis who remember
the economic pain caused by the Pressler years. End Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017
TAGS: PK PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: GROWING PERCEPTION THAT U.S. WILL ABANDON PAKISTAN
Classified By: Anne Patterson, For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary: News that the U.S. House and Senate had
approved House Resolution 1 with language requiring the
President report annually on Pakistan's efforts in the War on
Terror predictably caused a stir in Islamabad. The media's
interpretation of the bill narrowly focused on the perceived
"certification requirement." Comparisons with the Pressler
Amendment came fast and furious in newspapers and on
television July 27 and 28. (Note: Aside from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, government officials did not
comment publicly on the resolution. End Note.) Combined
with select coverage of recent statements by senior U.S.
officials, the passage of the resolution fed the
interpretation endorsed by some pundits that the U.S. is
distancing itself from Pakistan in its hour of need. Most
prominent newspapers (Urdu and English) also speculated that
the U.S. was contemplating unilateral military action in the
FATA. End Summary.
2. (C) During a private meeting with the Ambassador on July
27, Prime Minister Aziz raised recent statements by U.S.
officials about Pakistan's efforts in the War on Terror,
emphasizing the negative impact these statements were having
on counter-terror cooperation. The Ambassador explained that
many of the statements - by Under Secretary Burns, Fran
Townsend, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director James
Clapper - were being quoted out of context and exaggerated in
the media. The Prime Minister said he understood the press
was over-reacting but that both countries needed to manage
media reactions during their respective campaign seasons. It
was difficult, he added, for politicians and high officials
to respond to sharp questions about U.S. aims to "invade
Pakistan."
3. (U) President Musharraf, Foreign Minister Kasuri, and
leading Senators talked to the media about recent U.S.
statements on Pakistan on July 27. Musharraf said Pakistani
forces were "fully capable" of pursuing extremists in FATA
and didn't need intervention from the U.S. During a press
conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband on Friday, Foreign Minister Kasuri said recent U.S.
statements were "irresponsible and counter-productive."
Pakistan's Senate Foreign Relations Committee, headed by
Secretary General of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League
SIPDIS
Mushaid Hussain, called for an end to Pakistan's cooperation
in the War on Terror in the event of unilateral U.S. or NATO
military action in Pakistani territory.
4. (C) Comment: With the end of the Chief Justice case,
election season has kicked into high gear. Sensitivity to
the media's select coverage of U.S. statements and
legislative action will increase in the first few months, as
Pakistani officials and politicians seize opportunities to
stoutly defend Pakistan's sovereignty. Acknowledgment of
Pakistan's sacrifices in the War on Terror will help to
counter the perception that the U.S. is distancing itself
from Pakistan, especially as select press coverage of House
Resolution 1 stokes the anxieties of Pakistanis who remember
the economic pain caused by the Pressler years. End Comment.
PATTERSON