Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD5384
2007-12-28 13:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES BHUTTO ASSASSINATION WITH NSA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005384
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES BHUTTO ASSASSINATION WITH NSA
AZIZ
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 005384
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES BHUTTO ASSASSINATION WITH NSA
AZIZ
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Ambassador and DCM met NSA Tariq Aziz December 28 to
discuss the GOP's reaction to the assassination of Pakistan
People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto. Aziz made the
following points:
2. (C) The GOP will defer to the PPP on whether to proceed
on schedule with the election. Aziz said they will wait for
the PPP to meet later this weekend after the three day
mourning period and abide by the party's wishes as to whether
or not to go forward.
3. (C) The GOP has a phone intercept that has the Bhutto's
killers boasting of their success to militant leader
Baitullah Mehsood. The government plans to release the tape
as well as a video of the actual bomb blast to the media.
They have also reconstructed the face of the actual bomber
who took three shots at Benazir before the bomb went off.
The GOP claims that none of the shots hit Benazir and that
she was killed by a the force of the explosive slamming her
against the armor on the car. She was standing up in the
sunroof when the bomb went off. All other occupants of the
car survived with little or no injuries.
4. (C) ISI director General Taj had a long (two hour)
friendly meeting with Benazir the night before the bombing.
They were discussing the way forward. The meeting broke up
at 2 am. Aziz indicated they were making progress towards
some sort of election arrangement
5. (C) The two likely candidates for leadership of the PPP
are Benazir's husband Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Vice Chairman
Amin Faheem.
6. (C) The GOP would welcome the U.S. meeting with Nawaz to
urge him not to boycott the election,
7. (C) Northwest Frontier Province Governor Orakzai is
likely to be replaced in the next few days because of his
inability to get things done and the deals he has made with
the militants.
8. (C) There will be no new "Emergency Rule". There may be
isolated areas with curfews if the Army is called in to quell
violence. These will not last more than 48 to 72 hours.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES BHUTTO ASSASSINATION WITH NSA
AZIZ
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Ambassador and DCM met NSA Tariq Aziz December 28 to
discuss the GOP's reaction to the assassination of Pakistan
People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto. Aziz made the
following points:
2. (C) The GOP will defer to the PPP on whether to proceed
on schedule with the election. Aziz said they will wait for
the PPP to meet later this weekend after the three day
mourning period and abide by the party's wishes as to whether
or not to go forward.
3. (C) The GOP has a phone intercept that has the Bhutto's
killers boasting of their success to militant leader
Baitullah Mehsood. The government plans to release the tape
as well as a video of the actual bomb blast to the media.
They have also reconstructed the face of the actual bomber
who took three shots at Benazir before the bomb went off.
The GOP claims that none of the shots hit Benazir and that
she was killed by a the force of the explosive slamming her
against the armor on the car. She was standing up in the
sunroof when the bomb went off. All other occupants of the
car survived with little or no injuries.
4. (C) ISI director General Taj had a long (two hour)
friendly meeting with Benazir the night before the bombing.
They were discussing the way forward. The meeting broke up
at 2 am. Aziz indicated they were making progress towards
some sort of election arrangement
5. (C) The two likely candidates for leadership of the PPP
are Benazir's husband Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Vice Chairman
Amin Faheem.
6. (C) The GOP would welcome the U.S. meeting with Nawaz to
urge him not to boycott the election,
7. (C) Northwest Frontier Province Governor Orakzai is
likely to be replaced in the next few days because of his
inability to get things done and the deals he has made with
the militants.
8. (C) There will be no new "Emergency Rule". There may be
isolated areas with curfews if the Army is called in to quell
violence. These will not last more than 48 to 72 hours.
PATTERSON