ALL PARTIES COMMUNIQUE ON INDO-PAK RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003827 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL IN PK SUBJECT: ALL PARTIES COMMUNIQUE ON INDO-PAK RELATIONS REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3797 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 3795 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 3783 ¶D. ISLAMABAD 3716 ¶E. ISLAMABAD 3359 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Late December 2, in Islamabad, Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani convened an "all POLITICAL parties conference" to discuss Pakistan's unequivocal condemnation of the October 29 Mumbai bombings and their unified position vis-a-vis Pakistan's RELATIONS with neighbor India. The text of the unanimously-adopted conference communiqu is below (para 5). ¶2. (U) Before going into the meeting, Gilani urged India to avoid "finger wagging" and "casting blame." He reiterated: "We extend our hand of cooperation to India and are willing to jointly investigate the recent events in Mumbai." He assured the Pakistani public that the two neighbors were not on the verge of war. He appealed to the international community to support Pakistan and reminded other countries that his country too has suffered from terrorist attacks. ¶3. (SBU) The leaders of nearly every POLITICAL party, even from those which boycotted the February 18 parliamentary elections, participated in the December 2 conference. Provincial chief ministers and officials from Azad Jammu and Kashmir also were there. Notably, Nawaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N),Parliamentary Opposition Leader (also from PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Dr. Farooq Sattar of Karachi's Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM),Qazi Hussain Ahmad from Jamaat Islami (JI),Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao from Pakistan People's Party-S (PPP-S),and unofficial leader of the independent parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Munir Khan Aurakzai were in attendance. After the meeting, Gilani claimed these parties' support of the PPP-led government on "this matter of national security." ¶4. (C) According to National Security Advisor Ambassador Mahmud Durrani, the party representatives who compose the bicameral Special Committee of Parliament on National Security were also briefed December 3 by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. ¶5. (U) Begin text: On the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, the leaders representing all POLITICAL parties met in Islamabad today to discuss the developments ensuing from the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks, including implications for national security. The leaders and representatives of the POLITICAL parties of Pakistan unanimously underscored the following: 1- A strong condemnation of the reprehensible terrorist attacks in Mumbai. 2- That the People of Pakistan share the grief of the people of India and extend their sympathy to the families of the victims. 3- The steadfast resolve of the Pakistani nation to defend its honor and dignity as well as Pakistan's sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. 4- That all POLITICAL parties and democratic forces firmly support the Government and the Armed Forces of Pakistan in defending Pakistan's security interests. 5- Pakistan's abhorrence to any act of violence perpetrated against innocent persons. 6- That the POLITICAL parties took strong exception to the unsubstantiated allegations made in haste against Pakistan. 7- That Pakistan's desire to pursue its constructive engagement with India in a comprehensive manner with a view ISLAMABAD 00003827 002 OF 002 to building confidence and mutual trust for establishing friendly and good-neighborly RELATIONS with India on the basis of settlement of all outstanding disputes." End text. ¶6. (C) Comment: This communiqu may have a life of its own, whether intended or not by the PPP-led GOP. Much like the unanimous joint resolution by parliament on October 22 outlining Pakistan's broad strategy to combat extremism, this too may continue to be used and referred to as a roadmap for the GOP bureaucracy, an impetus for action by the PPP (and coalition partners),and/or a yardstick for the opposition to criticize the coalition. End comment. PATTERSON