Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD4092
2007-09-21 13:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
BIN LADEN'S CALL TO ARMS FALLS FLAT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004092
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BIN LADEN'S CALL TO ARMS FALLS FLAT
REF: ISLAMABAD 3027
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004092
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BIN LADEN'S CALL TO ARMS FALLS FLAT
REF: ISLAMABAD 3027
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: On September 20, al-Qaeda leaders released
two new tapes calling for Pakistanis to wage holy war against
President Musharraf in retaliation for the Red Mosque
operation in July. The government has dismissed the threats
and vowed to continue its counter-terrorism strategy. It is
too early to judge the long-term effect of the tapes on
military operations but, so far, the tapes have sparked
little interest in a populace focused on upcoming elections.
End summary.
2. (C) On September 20, Al-Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden
released a new audio message calling on Muslims in Pakistan
to wage holy war against President Musharraf, his government,
and his army. He called President Musharraf an apostate for
storming the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) in Islamabad in July
2007 (REFTEL). A related tape was also released by al-Qaeda's
Ayman al-Zawahiri also calling for jihad against President
Musharraf and his army. He described the killing of Red
Mosque leader Maulana Ghazi and the demolition of the
attached madrassa as "soaking the history of the Pakistani
army in shame which can only be washed away by retaliation
against the killers of Ghazi."
3. (C) The official government response to the tapes has been
largely dismissive. Military spokesman Major General Waheed
Arshad confirmed the armed forces' continued commitment to
fighting extremists and terrorists. He said that despite any
threats or insults, the whole nation of Pakistan was
supportive of the fight against terrorism and with the army.
Arshad also confirmed that the there would be no change in
policy in response to bin Laden's newest video.
4. (C) Though the tapes have been front page news in Western
press, the stories barely made the news in Pakistan. News
about the tapes has been slow to appear on Pakistani news
channels and did not make the front pages of most Urdu and
English-language newspapers in Pakistan. The public response
has been largely non-existent and most commentators are
dismissing this as another in the long line of bin Laden
tapes. Islamabad news today was dominated by Supreme Court
cases about President Musharraf's re-election eligibility and
the recent announcement of presidential election dates
(SEPTEL).
5. (SBU) Unrelated to the al-Qaeda tapes, a few hundred
madrassa students are protesting outside the Red Mosque today
in Islamabad. They are demanding that the government re-open
the mosque for Friday prayers and special Ramadan prayers.
The police continue to surround the area near the mosque and
the protests have remained peaceful.
6. (C) Comment: Bin Laden carefully chose his references. The
Red Mosque operation remains a contentious issue here as
liberals believe the President took too long to react,
extremists remain outraged, and the majority who oppose
terrorism were nonetheless uncomfortable with a military
operation against a mosque. It is too early to judge the
long-term effects of the video on military operations, but
for now Pakistanis are more focused on the upcoming
elections. End Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BIN LADEN'S CALL TO ARMS FALLS FLAT
REF: ISLAMABAD 3027
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: On September 20, al-Qaeda leaders released
two new tapes calling for Pakistanis to wage holy war against
President Musharraf in retaliation for the Red Mosque
operation in July. The government has dismissed the threats
and vowed to continue its counter-terrorism strategy. It is
too early to judge the long-term effect of the tapes on
military operations but, so far, the tapes have sparked
little interest in a populace focused on upcoming elections.
End summary.
2. (C) On September 20, Al-Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden
released a new audio message calling on Muslims in Pakistan
to wage holy war against President Musharraf, his government,
and his army. He called President Musharraf an apostate for
storming the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) in Islamabad in July
2007 (REFTEL). A related tape was also released by al-Qaeda's
Ayman al-Zawahiri also calling for jihad against President
Musharraf and his army. He described the killing of Red
Mosque leader Maulana Ghazi and the demolition of the
attached madrassa as "soaking the history of the Pakistani
army in shame which can only be washed away by retaliation
against the killers of Ghazi."
3. (C) The official government response to the tapes has been
largely dismissive. Military spokesman Major General Waheed
Arshad confirmed the armed forces' continued commitment to
fighting extremists and terrorists. He said that despite any
threats or insults, the whole nation of Pakistan was
supportive of the fight against terrorism and with the army.
Arshad also confirmed that the there would be no change in
policy in response to bin Laden's newest video.
4. (C) Though the tapes have been front page news in Western
press, the stories barely made the news in Pakistan. News
about the tapes has been slow to appear on Pakistani news
channels and did not make the front pages of most Urdu and
English-language newspapers in Pakistan. The public response
has been largely non-existent and most commentators are
dismissing this as another in the long line of bin Laden
tapes. Islamabad news today was dominated by Supreme Court
cases about President Musharraf's re-election eligibility and
the recent announcement of presidential election dates
(SEPTEL).
5. (SBU) Unrelated to the al-Qaeda tapes, a few hundred
madrassa students are protesting outside the Red Mosque today
in Islamabad. They are demanding that the government re-open
the mosque for Friday prayers and special Ramadan prayers.
The police continue to surround the area near the mosque and
the protests have remained peaceful.
6. (C) Comment: Bin Laden carefully chose his references. The
Red Mosque operation remains a contentious issue here as
liberals believe the President took too long to react,
extremists remain outraged, and the majority who oppose
terrorism were nonetheless uncomfortable with a military
operation against a mosque. It is too early to judge the
long-term effects of the video on military operations, but
for now Pakistanis are more focused on the upcoming
elections. End Comment.
PATTERSON