Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3008
2008-09-12 11:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN MILITARY DECLARES IT HAS ORDERS TO

Tags:  PREL PTER PGOV PK 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003008 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MILITARY DECLARES IT HAS ORDERS TO
RETALIATE AGAINST ACTION BY FOREIGN TROOPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003008

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MILITARY DECLARES IT HAS ORDERS TO
RETALIATE AGAINST ACTION BY FOREIGN TROOPS


1. (SBU) Summary. GOP leaders are falling beyond Chief of
Army Staff General Kayani's September 10 statement defending
Pakistan's sovereignty and denying the agreed rules of
engagement allow U.S. forces to conduct operations inside
Pakistan. The Pakistani military spokesman declared that the
Pakistan Army had been ordered to retaliate against any
action by foreign troops inside the country. The media noted
that UK PM Brown and Afghan President Karzai supported the
U.S. change in approach and that NATO was distancing itself
from this new strategy. End Summary.


2. (SBU) All Pakistani media continued to be dominated
September 12 by stories about the September 3 attack in South
Waziristan. The English-language Daily Times front page told
the story of increasing Pakistani defensiveness with
side-by-side headlines: "Boots on the Ground: Bush" -- "No
Way, Kayani." MG Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistani military
told the press that the "Pakistan Army has been ordered to
retaliate against any action by foreign troops inside the
country." Abbas told BBC news that a decision on any
retaliatory action would be taken "when the time came" and
"in accordance with the degree of intervention."


3. (SBU) In remarks to the press, Prime Minister Gilani
fully endorsed the September 10 statement of Chief of Army
Staff General Kayani ("The sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the country will be defended at all costs, and
no external force is allowed to conduct operations inside
Pakistan...The right to conduct operations against militants
inside (Pakistan's) territory is solely the responsibility of
the respective armed forces...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."). Gilani added that "The nation should not be upset
by the statement of US Admiral Mike Mullen who threatened
more strikes inside Pakistan" because "the government was
capable of protecting the country's borders."


4. (SBU) President Zardari echoed Gilani saying "The army
chief has reiterated government policy. The prime minister
and myself have already condemned cross-border strikes into
tribal areas and the two Houses of Parliament have already

spoken through unanimous resolutions." Zardari added that no
external force will be allowed to conduct military operations
inside Pakistan.


5. (SBU) FM Qureshi also expressed support for Kayani's
statement. The press notes Qureshi "emphatically dispelled
the impression that the government and the military
establishment had divergent views on this key national
security issue."


6. (SBU) In a BBC interview, Interior Minister Malik noted
the unanimous Pakistani parliamentary resolutions condemning
the attack and again urged the international community to
respect the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and not to
violate its territorial integrity.


7. (C) We have no readouts as yet of an ongoing Corps
Commanders meeting (a regularly scheduled event with COAS
Kayani) but the media is speculating the commanders also will
fully endorse Kayani's views.


8. (SBU) Other stories noted that NATO, via its spokesman
in Brussels, announced that NATO would not take part in a
proposed U.S. strategy of conducting raids into Pakistan from
Afghanistan. UK PM Gordon Brown is quoted as saying he would
press Pakistan to allow the U.S. and NATO troops in
Afghanistan to take "a new approach" in the hunt for Taliban
and al-Qaida militants and would discuss this with President
Zardari in London next week. Saying "change is essential,"
Afghan President Karzai is quoted as supporting a proposed
U.S. strategy that would involve hitting al-Qaida and Taliban
militants in Pakistan.


9. (SBU) Editorials:

"Unwise U.S. Policy," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir.
55,000) (09/12)

ISLAMABAD 00003008 002 OF 002



"There has been a regime change in Islamabad, but the basic
misunderstanding between Pakistan and the United States on
how to conduct the war on terror seems not only to persist
but grow... What the American strategists do not realize is
that by flaunting their power to attack in FATA they are
undermining Pakistan's democratic government."

"Enough, Uncle Sam," an editorial in the centrist national
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/12)

"America is daily deepening the well of resentment against
itself that no amount of aid input or pious diplomatic
platitudes will ever fill; and Uncle Sam should not be
surprised if his interests and assets within Pakistan become
the target of extremists -- because at least some of those
extremists will be the product of his own actions, his very
own recruits."

"New American Policy: Decision To Make Pakistan A Theater Of
War," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi
Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (09/12)

"The more Pakistan is cooperating with the United States in
the war on terror, the more it is damaging Pakistan. This is
the high time for Pakistan to revise its policies, or else
the situation will get worse with every passing day. If the
U.S. can change its strategy and policies, Pakistan too has
every right to do so."

"Allies Must Show Restraint," and editorial in the leading
mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000)
(09/12)

"It is important to work out a new policy immediately so that
the Pakistan Army may review its strategy accordingly. In
any case, the Allies in Afghanistan must show extreme
restrain and share intelligence with Pakistan if they find
any clue about militants. Such operation and military
actions are not appropriate that spawn the sentiments of
sympathy for the militants among the local population and
raise troubles for the government."

PATTERSON