Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3071
2008-09-19 15:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTANIS REMAIN DEFENSIVE

Tags:  PGOV PREL MOPS PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8891
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 9161
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8723
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3795
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0356
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6098
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4909
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003071 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANIS REMAIN DEFENSIVE

REF: ISLAMABAD 3053

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003071

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANIS REMAIN DEFENSIVE

REF: ISLAMABAD 3053


1. (SBU) Summary: The September 3 raid into South Waziristan
has drawn greater attention to alleged U.S. drone strikes in
Pakistan's border areas. Strikes that previously generated
regular but tepid press now prompt bold headlines. Pakistani
papers and political statements have focused on the September
17 strikes that coincided with the visit of U.S. Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen.
Politicians across the spectrum and the local media are
calling for the defense of Pakistan's sovereignty. Many
argue that unilateral U.S. military action on Pakistani soil
is counterproductive and could destabilize Pakistan and its
counterterrorism efforts. Some media criticized the GOP's
"helplessness" to prevent U.S. military action. Continued
coverage of U.S. military action forced an announcement that
the U.S. was providing USD 8.4 million in food assistance to
the back pages. End summary.

Air Strikes Overshadow U.S. Assurances
--------------


2. (SBU) Reaction to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Michael Mullen's September 16-17 visit to Pakistan
was generally positive, with papers September 17 favorably
reporting on Mullen's commitment to respect Pakistan's
sovereignty (reftel). At a September 18 press conference,
Foreign Minister Qureshi said the contradiction revealed an
"institutional disconnect" within the U.S. government.
Newspapers carried conflicting reports on whether the air
strikes were unilateral or a result of intelligence-sharing
between the U.S. and Pakistan. Qureshi conceded the
Pakistani government was not informed in advance. He warned
that border violations were damaging U.S.-Pakistan relations
and stressed the need to work together.


3. (SBU) Prime Minister Gilani also balanced his appeals for
sovereignty with a focus on cooperation. In Urdu-language
media, Gilani promised "no compromise" on the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Pakistan. He warned that U.S.
unilateral action was counterproductive because it stoked
anti-U.S. sentiment and sympathy for militants. This could
destabilize Pakistan, he added. But he also reiterated his
stance that the war on terror was in Pakistan's own national
interest and stressed the need for greater bilateral
cooperation and intelligence sharing. Interior Minister
Malik said September 18 that there was no agreement between
Pakistan and the U.S that allows the foreign troops in
Afghanistan to operate in Pakistani territory. He urged the
government to use diplomatic as well as other channels to
ensure the territorial sovereignty of the country. Defense
Minister Mukhtar told reporters that the U.S. had violated
Pakistan's sovereignty despite promising it would not and
indicated the GOP would protest continued attacks. Both the
Islamabad and Karachi City Councils adopted resolutions
condemning airstrikes in Pakistani territory.


4. (SBU) Opposition leaders and the media have criticized the
government for not clearly explaining the GOP's policy on
U.S. incursions. Speaking to the press, National Assembly
Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz) called the strikes "unprecedented" and
"unacceptable." "We demand that President Zardari scrap" any
former agreement to allow U.S. strikes inside Pakistan, Khan
said.

Sovereignty: Not a One-way Street
--------------


5. (SBU) The GOP continued to ensure the media is briefed on
how drone attacks are killing foreign militants. A September
19 "Daily Times" editorial enjoined readers to focus on the
"real land invasion by foreign terrorists." At his September
18 press conference, Qureshi expanded his criticism beyond
the U.S. to say, "As far as sovereignty is concerned, there
is responsibility on Pakistan as well to ensure there is no
incident to violate Afghanistan's territory." Furthermore,
English daily "The News" observed that civilian and military
decision-makers "must accept that the best means to keep the
U.S. at bay is to act ourselves."


ISLAMABAD 00003071 002 OF 002



6. (SBU) The front page of the September 18 English-language
"Daily Times" highlighted Deputy Secretary Negroponte's call
for cooperation. His statement that unilateral action in
Pakistani territory was not a viable long-term solution for
border security was well-received. Media lauded Negroponte's
suggestion that trilateral cooperation - U.S., Pakistan, and
Afghanistan - was the best way forward.


7. (SBU) A "Daily Times" editorial September 19 also noted
that "Those who recommend that Pakistan should stop
logistical support to the 70,000-odd NATO/ISAF forces in
Afghanistan -- 'without fuel they can't last a day' -- should
also know that this reimbursable logistics and fuel supply
arrangement, which has accounted for a significant fraction
of the USD 11 billion of 'military assistance' to Pakistan
for the last nine years, is also needed by us to fight the
real 'land invasion' by foreign terrorists."
PATTERSON