NAWAZ'S TENETS FOR WAR ON TERROR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003349

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS EAID PK
SUBJECT: NAWAZ'S TENETS FOR WAR ON TERROR

REF: ISLAMABAD 2817

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


1. (C) Summary: The opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N's
(PML-N) Nawaz Sharif has submitted a letter to PM Gilani
outlining his party's six tenets for any counterterrorism
strategy. While blaming the Musharraf administration for
misguided policies and claiming a desire for consensus, the
letter stressed the need for dialogue with the militants,
economic development for the region, and a commitment that
Pakistan's territory will not be used for terrorism in any
other country. This letter marks Nawaz's first serious foray
into policy as leader of the opposition, and it was carefully
calibrated to both address U.S. concerns and appeal to the
still prevalent public support for negotiations over military
action. Information Minister Sherry Rehman is heading up a
16-member multi-party committee to draft a consensus
resolution that the GOP hopes the current joint session
parliament will unanimously approve. It will be interesting
to see if Nawaz's points are included in that resolution.
End Summary.

On the Record
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2. (SBU) After more than a week of GOP briefings to a joint
sitting of Pakistan's parliament on its counterterrorism
strategy, leading opposition party Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz submitted six proposals for a consensus policy.
The letter was made public late October 21, the day after it
was delivered to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The
Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government did not have an
initial reaction to the points, but has proposed an all
parties committee to draft a resolution supporting the GOP's
CT strategy. The PPP is hoping such a resolution can be
passed unanimously before the end of this atypical joint
session.


3. (U) According to the PML-N's letter, signed by party
leader Nawaz Sharif, the GOP should: (1) adopt a strategy
based on comprehensive dialogue with all stakeholders; (2)
defend and safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial
integrity; (3) restore governance in the tribal areas keeping
in view local customs and social norms; (4) focus on
employment generation and socio-economic issues in the
frontier areas; (5) develop the Pak-Afghan border into a
trade corridor for the region; and (6) ensure no one uses
Pakistan's territory for terrorism in any other country. The
letter does not further define these points, instead
suggesting the formation of a joint parliamentary committee
to "carry out regular reviews" of the government's CT efforts
following such points.


4. (SBU) Nawaz's letter reportedly criticized the CT policies
of the former Musharraf administration. These policies were
"short-sighted," without "any consultations or consensus."
"The revision was evidently tactical and driven by external
compulsions rather than internal dynamics," the letter
continues. Nawaz blamed military-led maneuvers for
supplanting the civilian administration and undercutting the
government's capacity to negotiate a peace.


5. (C) Nawaz concluded the letter pledging his full support
to the Prime Minister in drafting and implementing a
consensus policy. PML-N Spokesman Siddiq ul Farooq claimed
to PolOff October 21 that Nawaz's desire for a consensus
resolution was earnest. He bragged that enough parties and
parliamentarians, including some that had supported PPP
leader Asif Zardari for the presidency, so overwhelmingly
disagreed with the GOP's perceived reliance on military
action that PM Gilani would lose a vote of confidence if it
came to a vote. "But we want to support the government,"
Farooq quickly added.

Competing Committees, Competing Plans
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6. (SBU) Meanwhile, a 16-member multi-partisan committee has
been formed to draft a consensus resolution for action by the
current joint session. The committee, headed by Information
Minister Sherry Rehman and consisting of one representative

ISLAMABAD 00003349 002 OF 002


from each of the ruling and opposition parties, planned to
meet October 22.


7. (C) While leading opposition party PML-N outwardly
promised cooperation, competing opposition party Pakistan
Muslim League (PML) has openly challenged the GOP's designs.
PML has reportedly drafted a competing resolution and has
formed eight teams to meet with other political parties to
win support. It claimed "positive responses," including from
the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM),which officially sits on
the government bench but has not been given federal
ministries as yet.


8. (C) Comment: The joint parliamentary session that began
with a full house to hear the military's security briefing
has steadily petered out as fewer and fewer members attend
the ongoing sessions. Sherry Rehman and NSA Durrani both
reported to us concern that the sessions were generating
increased anti-American rhetoric. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
leader Fazlur Rehman last week led the charge of complaints
that the government's use of military force was the only
pillar of the GOP's three-part CT strategy that is being
employed. Rehman, who is part of the government's coalition,
argued strenuously for dialogue and he was joined by some of
the FATA parliamentarians whose districts are being pounded
by shelling and aerial bombardment. PM Gilani's government
relies for its majority on both Fazlur and the FATA
parliamentarians, but PML-N's talk of using this resolution
to bring down the government is pure bravado for now.
Nawaz's letter was his first foray into policy as opposition
leader, and it was carefully calibrated to both address U.S.
concerns about cross-border attacks and play to continued
popular support for negotiations over military action.

PATTERSON