Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD2994
2008-09-11 13:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

ADDITIONAL REACTION TO THE SOUTH WAZIRISTAN STRIKE

Tags:  PGOV PK PREL PTER MOPS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0703
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #2994 2551344
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111344Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8752
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 9101
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8654
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3746
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0288
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6030
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4840
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 4371
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002994 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER MOPS
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL REACTION TO THE SOUTH WAZIRISTAN STRIKE

Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002994

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER MOPS
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL REACTION TO THE SOUTH WAZIRISTAN STRIKE

Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (C) MFA Director General for Americas Sohail Mahmood
convoked Polcouns September 11 to express deep concern about
today's New York Time's story, which alleged that President
Bush had approved U.S. military raids into Pakistan. Asking
who was providing this information and what were their
motivations, Mahmood said these allegations undermined a new
government that needed some space in which to settle down and
begin making policy decisions. Mahmood also asked for a copy
of the testimony of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral
Mullen which was quoted in the Pakistani media (see below)
today. Mahmood commented that, at a time when Pakistan is
moving forward on shared counter-terrorism objectives, these
kinds of stories hurt us both. He noted that the stories
prompted anti-American debate in the parliament today,
especially from Jamaat-e-Islmai Senator Khurshid Ahmad, and
that the Pakistani electronic media had "gone wild" with
combative and defensive discourse.


2. (SBU) On September 11, all local papers provided
front-page coverage of a statement released by Pakistan's
Chief of Army Staff General Kayani after he called upon
newly-elected President Zardari. The statement says that
"the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country
would be defended at all costs, and no external force is
allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan." The press
quotes Kayani as asserting: "The right to conduct operations
against militants inside (Pakistan's) territory is solely the
responsibility of the respective armed forces" and "There is
no question of any agreement or understanding with the
coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct
operations on our side of the border."


3. (SBU) Most media highlighted on the same page remarks by
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mullen's remarks
September 10 before the House Armed Services Committee.
These stories focused on Mullen's stated belief that the U.S.
was not now winning in Afghanistan and that a more
comprehensive strategy would be needed that would cover both
sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. Many media outlets
interpreted Admiral Mullen's comments as giving a green light
to continued coalition operations inside Pakistan.



PATTERSON