DEPUTY SECRETARY MEETS PM GILLANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001334

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY MEETS PM GILLANI

Classified By: CDA Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with newly
elected Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gillani on March 26.
Gillani expressed appreciation for the President's
congratulatory call, asked for the support of the United
States, and expressed desire to expand cooperation with the
U.S. in counterterrorism efforts and in the economic sector.
Gillani discussed his commitment to strengthening Pakistan's
democratic institutions and recommitted to the war on terror,
noting that the new government needed to be taken into
confidence about counterterrorism efforts if they were to
succeed. Gillani explained that Pakistan's most pressing
issue is improving the economy; he also said he looks forward
to an improved relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Although short on details and plans, Gillani was articulate
and humble, appearing genuine in his desire that Benazir
Bhutto should have held the Prime Minster post instead of
himself. End Summary.


2. (C) On March 26, Deputy Secretary Negroponte, SCA
Assistant Secretary Boucher, and Charge met with newly
elected Prime Minister Gillani in a thirty-minute meeting at
the Prime Minister's residence. Gillani immediately
expressed his appreciation for President Bush's recent phone
call of congratulations and support. Gillani said he and the
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) accept the recent election
results under protest, explaining that the PPP should have
had a majority in the National Assembly but were "forced"
into a coalition government. Gillani, however, acknowledged
that it would have been difficult for his party to work alone
when addressing issues such as terrorism and the economy, and
noted that PPP's challenge is to effectively connect with the
other political parties.

Strengthening Pakistan's Democratic Process
--------------


3. (C) Gillani told Deputy Secretary that he and his party
intend to strengthen the democratic institutions in a slow
but smooth process: "We can easily walk, there's no need to
jump," Gillani said. Many members of the opposition party
privately supported his election, Gillani claimed, but were
prevented from publicly demonstrating support in the National
Assembly by restrictions on voting against one's own party
position. Gillani will take a vote of confidence from the
National Assembly on March 29 and then begin forming his
cabinet in the following two days. Gillani hopes to
strengthen democratic institutions in Pakistan by reasserting
the supremacy of the parliament, taking further steps toward
a truly independent Election Commission, and by allowing more
freedom in the media.

Recommitted to the War on Terror
--------------


4. (C) Gillani emphasized his desire for expanded
counterterrorism cooperation with the United States; he said
that the U.S. and Pakistan share a common interest because
terrorism is very much an internal problem for Pakistan. He
explained that the PPP is committed to fighting terrorism
because of Benazir Bhutto's assassination: "I lost my leader
because of terrorism," Gillani emphatically said, "I'm
sitting in this house because of her sacrifice." Gillani
explained that terrorism has a direct impact on his daily
life--now he and other PPP leaders can only move about the
country in armored cars with security protection. He and his
party are committed to diminishing the impression among the
Pakistani people that they are fighting another's war; he
said that the previous government did not take parliament
into confidence about counterterrorism efforts and explained
that the PPP intends to convince all of parliament that the
war on terror is Pakistan's battle too.

Economy: The Most Pressing Issue
--------------


5. (C) Gillani also expressed his desire for expanded
economic cooperation with the United States. Gillani said
that Pakistan's most pressing issue is the current economic
crisis, particularly electricity shortages and rising food
prices. Pakistan's poor, he said, are more concerned about
inflation and rising food costs than with strengthening

ISLAMABAD 00001334 002 OF 002


Pakistan's democratic institutions. He attributed PPP's
victory to public discontent with the economy. Gillani told
Deputy Secretary that the new government's first 100 days
will focus on the economy, as he is worried about electricity
shortages in summer heat. Load shedding, he added, has shut
down much of Pakistan's industry, resulting in increased
unemployment across the country. Gillani says that all of the
political parties share responsibility for this problem and
must work together for a solution, but did not provide
details on steps he would take in this direction.


6. (C) Gillani told Deputy Secretary that the moderate
parties share an "obsession" with counterrorism, improving
Pakistan's education, creating jobs for young people, and
shutting down militant madrasses. Gillani is particularly
interested in developing the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA),by providing the poor with alternatives to
"demigod mullahs." Pakistan has only very rich and very
poor, he explained, and he hopes to see a more robust middle
class emerge in the country.

Regional Relationships
--------------


7. (C) Gillani said he is confident that relations with
Afghanistan will be positive. Afghan President Hamid Karzai
called to congratulate him on his election to Prime Minister
and extended his full cooperation and an invitation to visit
Afghanistan. Gillani then noted that the late Benazir
Bhutto, PPP co-chair Asif Zardari, and even Nawaz Sharif all
have had an excellent relationship with Karzai. Gillani said
that the Awami National Party's (ANP) connections with
Karzai are the reason the PPP joined them in North-West
Frontier Province (NWFP); he claimed that the PPP had been
capable of forming a government on their own in the province.


8. (C) Indian Prime Minister Singh also called Gillani to
congratulate him. Gillani said he has "good friends" in
India, particularly in the Indian Home Secretary and National
Assembly Speaker; Gillani explained that the Indian Speaker
was Minster for Tourism at the same time Gillani held the
post in Pakistan.


9. (C) Gillani concluded by requesting the United States'
support and cooperation; he was very receptive to meeting
with President Bush. He fondly reflected on his visit to the
United States, when he lobbied against the Pressler Amendment
and had the opportunity to meet multiple congressmen and
senators.


10. (U) The Deputy Secretary has cleared this message.
BODDE