Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD2203
2008-06-23 12:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE
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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002203
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL MARR ECON
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE
BUDGET DEBATE
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002203
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL MARR ECON
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE
BUDGET DEBATE
1. (SBU) Summary: On June 17, Pakistan's parliament debated
the defense budget for the first time in the nation's
history. Although details were sparse and debate limited,
this marked a symbolic move toward greater civilian oversight
of the armed forces. Chief of ARMY Staff General Kayani
supported providing additional information, but the budget
still did not include figures for specific weapons
procurement, intelligence, or strategic programs. Most
political and media commentators lauded the effort while
supporting continued secrecy regarding details. Embassy
continues to try to provide parliamentarians with a briefing
on U.S. defense programs, but they remain wary of crossing
the military. For now, we are providing the Speaker of the
National Assembly with a written brief on our programs.
Separately, USAID is implementing a parliamentary
strengthening program to enhance the capacity of parliament
to analyze budgets and draft legislation. End summary.
Minor Steps toward More Civilian Control
2. (SBU) Senate leader Raza Rabbani (Pakistan People's Party)
tabled the defense budget for debate in the Senate on June
17, breaking the tradition of submitting the defense budget
as a single line item without debate. The debate was limited
to two hours with the defense budget broken down into seven
areas: employee-related expenses, operating expenses, travel
and transportation, general, physical assets, other stores
and stocks, and civil works. Notably, the budget did not
include figures for specific weapons procurement, the
nuclear/missile strategic programs, or intelligence
operations. Rabbani saw the precedent-setting debate as a
way to make all other institutions accountable to Parliament.
The National Assembly approved the budget on June 21.
3. (SBU) Rabbani noted the debate fulfilled part of the
coalition parties' Charter of Democracy, which stipulated the
budget would be brought to Parliament. Parliamentarians aired
views ranging from allegations the budget included false
figures to praise for the military. Senator Khalid Soomro
(Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-F) called for defense cuts to penalize
the military for interfering in politics and conducting
operations in the FATA.
4. (SBU) Independent defense analyst and former Secretary of
Defense for Production (ret) Lt General Talat Masood told
Embassy sources the military sees the budget debate as
symbolic rather than substantive. The armed forces are more
likely to tolerate increasing civilian control if that
control is exercised in moderation, said Masood, especially
at the beginning of such reforms. Most media commended the
parliament for this initial effort while supporting
continuing secrecy regarding the details.
5. (SBU) Comment: Significant progress toward civilian
oversight likely will take years, if it ever happens, but
this is a good symbolic first step. The Embassy has tried to
brief parliamentarians on U.S. military aid to Pakistan, but
they remain wary of crossing the military establishment. For
now, we are providing the Speaker of the National Assembly
with a written brief on our programs. Separately, USAID is
implementing a parliamentary strengthening program to enhance
the limited capacity of parliament to analyze budgets and
draft legislation.
PATTERSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL MARR ECON
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE
BUDGET DEBATE
1. (SBU) Summary: On June 17, Pakistan's parliament debated
the defense budget for the first time in the nation's
history. Although details were sparse and debate limited,
this marked a symbolic move toward greater civilian oversight
of the armed forces. Chief of ARMY Staff General Kayani
supported providing additional information, but the budget
still did not include figures for specific weapons
procurement, intelligence, or strategic programs. Most
political and media commentators lauded the effort while
supporting continued secrecy regarding details. Embassy
continues to try to provide parliamentarians with a briefing
on U.S. defense programs, but they remain wary of crossing
the military. For now, we are providing the Speaker of the
National Assembly with a written brief on our programs.
Separately, USAID is implementing a parliamentary
strengthening program to enhance the capacity of parliament
to analyze budgets and draft legislation. End summary.
Minor Steps toward More Civilian Control
2. (SBU) Senate leader Raza Rabbani (Pakistan People's Party)
tabled the defense budget for debate in the Senate on June
17, breaking the tradition of submitting the defense budget
as a single line item without debate. The debate was limited
to two hours with the defense budget broken down into seven
areas: employee-related expenses, operating expenses, travel
and transportation, general, physical assets, other stores
and stocks, and civil works. Notably, the budget did not
include figures for specific weapons procurement, the
nuclear/missile strategic programs, or intelligence
operations. Rabbani saw the precedent-setting debate as a
way to make all other institutions accountable to Parliament.
The National Assembly approved the budget on June 21.
3. (SBU) Rabbani noted the debate fulfilled part of the
coalition parties' Charter of Democracy, which stipulated the
budget would be brought to Parliament. Parliamentarians aired
views ranging from allegations the budget included false
figures to praise for the military. Senator Khalid Soomro
(Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-F) called for defense cuts to penalize
the military for interfering in politics and conducting
operations in the FATA.
4. (SBU) Independent defense analyst and former Secretary of
Defense for Production (ret) Lt General Talat Masood told
Embassy sources the military sees the budget debate as
symbolic rather than substantive. The armed forces are more
likely to tolerate increasing civilian control if that
control is exercised in moderation, said Masood, especially
at the beginning of such reforms. Most media commended the
parliament for this initial effort while supporting
continuing secrecy regarding the details.
5. (SBU) Comment: Significant progress toward civilian
oversight likely will take years, if it ever happens, but
this is a good symbolic first step. The Embassy has tried to
brief parliamentarians on U.S. military aid to Pakistan, but
they remain wary of crossing the military establishment. For
now, we are providing the Speaker of the National Assembly
with a written brief on our programs. Separately, USAID is
implementing a parliamentary strengthening program to enhance
the limited capacity of parliament to analyze budgets and
draft legislation.
PATTERSON