CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 005361

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (C) Summary. In a December 27 meeting with Codel
Specter, President Musharraf outlined ongoing Pakistani
efforts to fight extremism, expressed support for increased
IMET funding, and defended his decision to impose a state of
emergency. Senator Specter pressed for Pakistan to capture
Usama bin Laden; Specter and Congressman Kennedy expressed
concern about the continued detention of judges and the
importance of an independent judiciary and free and fair
elections. End summary.


2. (C) Senator Arlen Specter, Congressman Patrick Kennedy,
Ambassador and Polcouns (notetaker) met December 27 with
President Musharraf in his Islamabad residence. Musharraf
was accompanied by General Shafkat and his new Private
Secretary Mohsin Hafeez.

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3. (C) Senator Specter opened the meeting by noting the U.S.
values the close bilateral relationship with Pakistan and
appreciates Islamabad's support in the war on terror. He
asked the President if he knew where Usama bin Laden as
hiding.


4. (C) Congressman Kennedy noted that the recent conditions
attached to U.S. military assistance should be seen only as a
means to ensure that our funding is going where it needs to
go--to help the Pakistani military fight the war on terror.
The U.S. fully recognized that Pakistan has lost over 1,000
troops to extremists and we wanted to ensure transparency in
funding so that the military could better do its job.
Kennedy expressed strong support for the IMET program to
build military relationships and promote democracy. He also
said that many in the U.S. were concerned that the Pakistani
elections would be rigged and asked how Musharraf planned to
ease the transition to the new government.


5. (C) Musharraf expressed satisfaction that the bilateral
relationship was now broader and more long-term than it had
been in the past. There had been an unfortunate gap in IMET
support during the Pressler amendment years but now "the sky
is the limit" on how we should expand the program to improve
military training and capabilities. Saying that conditions
"do not go well here," Musharraf expressed concern that
conditions placed on U.S. aid were seen in Pakistan as a lack
of U.S. trust.


6. (C) Reimbursements for costs on the war on terror (note:
Coalition Support Funds) were analyzed and mutually agreed;
there could be no question that the funds were getting to the
military. Citing a previous concern about maintenance of the
Pakistani Cobra helicopter fleet, Musharraf said that several
months ago only one of 20 Cobras was operational. This was a
serious problem as Pakistan needed these Cobras to fight
air/ground operations against terrorists. The problem, he
said, was that Pakistan was not as well organized about
maintenance as they should have been, but it was not an issue
of the money not going where it was intended. Musharraf said
the Army now has taken action to correct the problem.


7. (C) On terrorism, Musharraf said that Pakistan was
fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban, both in the tribal border
areas and now into the settled areas of the country. They
were suffering from a growing number of suicide bombings as
well, and they traced the source of almost all these bombings
to militant leader Baitallah Mehsud in Waziristan. Mehsud
was providing training and logistical support for terrorists
in Pakistan and across the border into Afghanistan. The Army
had been engaging in tough action in Swat. Specter asked
about bin Laden, and Musharraf replied that he could be in
Bajaur Agency (in the Federally Administered Tribal Area),
where government forces currently could not operate.
Musharraf mused that if operations in Swat could be wrapped
up, the Army might move to North and South Waziristan to
eliminate Mehsud and then go on to Bajaur. There were
approximately 100,000 troops in the area now; this was the
result of shifting two divisions from the northern border.
They were raising 12 wings of the Frontier Corps which should
be equipped and ready to fight by December 31. But the Army
was increasingly overstretched so the plans would take time
to implement.


8. (C) Leading into a discussion of the state of emergency,

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Specter said that all people in public life were subject to
both fame and ridicule, and he recognized that Pakistan was
not the U.S. But imposing a state of emergency, arresting
judges, restricting the media, and keeping the Chief Justice
under house arrest were events that caused concern in the
U.S. Our Supreme Court tells our President things he doesn't
want to hear. An independent media and judiciary were
important for democracy.


9. (C) Musharraf agreed that, technically, a free media and
judiciary were important for a democracy. But Pakistan was
not as stable as the U.S. If the choice was between
disintegration and democracy, the integrity of the state had
to come first. The Chief Justice was corrupt, he engaged in
nepotism, and he interfered in cases for personal reasons.
Then he went further and interfered on issues affecting the
country and the economy, preventing privatization in one case
from moving forward. Musharraf said he began hearing appeals
from the Prime Minister, the police and other government
officials asking to put a stop to the Chief Justice's
politically motivated actions. At first, Musharraf said he
made a blunder by not acting out of concern over criticism on
human rights grounds. But eventually Musharraf filed a case
of misconduct, as is legally outlined, with the Supreme
Judicial Council and suspended the Chief Justice. Instead of
allowing the Council to rule on the matter, the Supreme Court
reinstated former Chief Justice Chaudhry, in violation of the
procedures outlined in the Constitution.


10. (C) Musharraf stated that he imposed a state of
emergency because the government was almost paralyzed, the
law enforcement community was demoralized and the Court was
letting terrorist go free. The Court had ordered the
re-opening of the Red Mosque in Islamabad after the Army had
been forced to launch a military operation to shut down
terrorist activities there. The economy was suffering due to
the Court's actions. Then the Court challenged the will of
the National Assembly when it voted to re-elect Musharraf.
The Court began hearing cases into Musharraf's eligibility
for re-election and the issue became increasingly
politicized. The first bench was composed of seven judges;
when it became clear to the Chief Justice that the verdict
would support Musharraf, the bench was extended to nine and
eventually eleven judges. Musharraf said before imposing the
state of emergency he consulted with the military, the
business community and the cabinet; all agreed the Chief
Justice had to be stopped. Musharraf said his staff was
preparing a full explanation in response to a letter he had
received from the American Bar Association.


11. (C) Kennedy asked about the remaining detainees, and
Musharraf said there were only a few still under house
arrest. Yes, Musharraf volunteered, this included Aitzaz
Ahsan, who had been released only to immediately start
organizing lawyers' protests again; this was not acceptable,
so Ahsan was re-arrested.


12. (C) Musharraf had another event at attend, but he
closed the meeting by saying that his priority issues were
fighting terrorism, maintaining economic growth and
encouraging democracy. Democracy was the only way forward
for the future and Pakistan must have free and fair elections.


13. (U) Codel Specter did not have an opportunity to clear
this message.


PATTERSON