UK AND US AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004652

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER PINR PREL PK
SUBJECT: UK AND US AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERIOR
MINISTER SHERPAO

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4599


B. ISLAMABAD 4494

Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
.


1. (C) Summary: UK and US ambassadors reiterated October 29
the offer of law enforcement assistance to Interior minister
Sherpao and MOI secretary (and former Karachi police chief)
Kamal Shah. Sherpao said the investigation into the October
18 Karachi bombing was proceeding well. A formal request for
foreign help had become difficult because it would encourage
a perception that the government could not do its job, he
said. Sherpao and Shah agreed to suggestion of UK ambassador
that they brief Benazir Bhutto on the progress of the
investigation. MOI has already identified suspects with ties
to terrorist groups. Sherpao pointed out previous suicide
bombings in Karachi had been resolved. MOI has allowed
Bhutto to use her own armed personnel and cars with tinted
windows. GOP has also provided additional armored vehicles.
Embassy is faxing to desk points from Musharraf,s chief of
staff provided on security provided to Bhutto. RSO will also
touch base with Shah and with Bhutto,s security personnel to
follow up to his previous discussions. End summary.


2. (C) US and UK ambassadors called on Minister of Interior
Sherpao and MOI secretary (and former Karachi police chief)
Kamal Shah October 29 to reiterate offer of law enforcement
assistance. UK ambassador recalled the Minister had already
rejected assistance but noted that our law enforcement
personnel might have capabilities that the Pakistani police
lack. Ambassador said her interest was also a political one:
she understood foreign law enforcement personnel did not
have informants nor the language for direct involvement in
Karachi, and she understood the government confronted a
dilemma in that it could not appear as if it were caving in
to international pressure. Still, outside assistance might
help the government validate the results of its own
investigation. And it did not have to come from the US or
the UK. Sherpao said that Bhutto had closed out the option
politically ) &if she had only made her request
privately,8 he said, &and if only she had not focused it on
the US and the UK.8 But he said he would ask the chief
investigator in Sindh once again if there was anything he
needed.


3. (C) UK ambassador recommended that Bhutto be briefed on
the progress of the investigation. Kamal Shah said that he
would have the Sindh chief investigator talk to her but ask
her not to divulge details of an ongoing investigation to the
press. Shah said that suicide bombings in Karachi, including
those against Americans, had almost always been resolved:
they already had some suspects with ties to terrorist groups.
Regarding Bhutto,s specific concerns, they were allowing
her people to have weapons, to use tinted windows, and were
providing more armored vehicles and trying to work with her
security personnel.


4. (C) RSO will follow up with Shah and with Bhutto's
security personnell to see if any action has been taken
regarding the hiring of a security firm as per reftel.
PATTERSON