PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE

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