PAKISTANIS REMAIN DEFENSIVE

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