Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL1321
2007-04-18 06:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
PRT JALALABAD: KARZAI SKIPS OPPORTUNITY TO
how-toVZCZCXRO8821 OO RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #1321 1080619 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 180619Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7596 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3972
UNCLAS KABUL 001321
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT JALALABAD: KARZAI SKIPS OPPORTUNITY TO
CRITICIZE PAKISTAN
UNCLAS KABUL 001321
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT JALALABAD: KARZAI SKIPS OPPORTUNITY TO
CRITICIZE PAKISTAN
1. (U) President Hamid Karzai visited Jalalabad in Nangarhar
province April 14 to inaugurate the Baacha Khan Complex
honoring the leader of the non-violent independence movement
in British India's Northwest Frontier. The event was
noteworthy for the fact that Karzai attended but did not take
the opportunity to criticize President Musharraf as many
thought he might do.
2. (U) The Afghan president paid rich tribute to Khan Abdul
Ghaffar Khan, commonly known as Baacha Khan, a spiritual and
religious leader who had worked tirelessly to organize and
raise the consciousness of his fellow Pushtuns. He died in
1988 and was buried in Jalalabad per his wishes. Karzai
announced the initiation of the Baacha Khan Peace Award to be
given to those working for peace and non-violence across the
world. He said that the Pakhtuns of Afghanistan and Pakistan
were not involved in terrorism, though certain elements were
depicting them as terrorists to the world. Karzai did not
criticize President Musharraf in his remarks, only commenting
that "relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan could be
improved, if the former brings reforms to its policy and
stops throwing dust in the eyes of the world."
3. (U) In contrast, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Pakistani
politician and President of Pakistan's secular and Pashtun
nationalist ANP party (Awami National Party),did mention
Musharraf by name during the speeches, saying the "fire
torched by imperialist forces of the world" was now spreading
to the tribal belt and the rest of Pakistan. He added that
the Pashtuns were being killed on their own soil in a "war of
aliens". He commented that it was time for Pashtuns to shun
their differences and forge unity, otherwise they would
"perish from the screen", as conspiracies were being hatched
to eliminate their identity. "I am Afghan by nationality," he
declared.
4. (SBU) Comment: The event was a celebration of the
Pashtun tribe. Rumor in Jalalabad was that Karzai attended
out of concern for his support among Pashtuns, his principal
constituency. A similar rumor was that Karzai might be
considering moving Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, a
fellow Pashtun and avid supporter of the President, to
another province where he could help shore up support for
Karzai.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT JALALABAD: KARZAI SKIPS OPPORTUNITY TO
CRITICIZE PAKISTAN
1. (U) President Hamid Karzai visited Jalalabad in Nangarhar
province April 14 to inaugurate the Baacha Khan Complex
honoring the leader of the non-violent independence movement
in British India's Northwest Frontier. The event was
noteworthy for the fact that Karzai attended but did not take
the opportunity to criticize President Musharraf as many
thought he might do.
2. (U) The Afghan president paid rich tribute to Khan Abdul
Ghaffar Khan, commonly known as Baacha Khan, a spiritual and
religious leader who had worked tirelessly to organize and
raise the consciousness of his fellow Pushtuns. He died in
1988 and was buried in Jalalabad per his wishes. Karzai
announced the initiation of the Baacha Khan Peace Award to be
given to those working for peace and non-violence across the
world. He said that the Pakhtuns of Afghanistan and Pakistan
were not involved in terrorism, though certain elements were
depicting them as terrorists to the world. Karzai did not
criticize President Musharraf in his remarks, only commenting
that "relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan could be
improved, if the former brings reforms to its policy and
stops throwing dust in the eyes of the world."
3. (U) In contrast, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Pakistani
politician and President of Pakistan's secular and Pashtun
nationalist ANP party (Awami National Party),did mention
Musharraf by name during the speeches, saying the "fire
torched by imperialist forces of the world" was now spreading
to the tribal belt and the rest of Pakistan. He added that
the Pashtuns were being killed on their own soil in a "war of
aliens". He commented that it was time for Pashtuns to shun
their differences and forge unity, otherwise they would
"perish from the screen", as conspiracies were being hatched
to eliminate their identity. "I am Afghan by nationality," he
declared.
4. (SBU) Comment: The event was a celebration of the
Pashtun tribe. Rumor in Jalalabad was that Karzai attended
out of concern for his support among Pashtuns, his principal
constituency. A similar rumor was that Karzai might be
considering moving Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, a
fellow Pashtun and avid supporter of the President, to
another province where he could help shore up support for
Karzai.
WOOD