Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD591
2008-02-11 03:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
ANOTHER QUIET KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000591
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL IN
SUBJECT: ANOTHER QUIET KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000591
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL IN
SUBJECT: ANOTHER QUIET KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 sparked
small and mostly peaceful rallies in Islamabad. Although
Pakistani politicians, as expected, called for international
intervention and concessions from India, most of the
demonstrations were a front for political statements
pertaining to the coming elections. End summary.
2. (U) Kashmir Solidarity Day, a Pakistani public holiday,
yielded lackluster and peaceful rallies across Pakistan on
February 5. Pakistani police in Rawalpindi beefed up
security to deter terrorist attacks. In Islamabad, three
hundred Kashmiris under police escort protested in front of
the Indian High Comission within the diplomatic enclave.
Participants in another Islamabad rally demanded
implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. All of
Pakistan observed a one-minute moment of silence at 10:00 AM,
during which all rail and road traffic was halted. Musharraf
and Caretaker Prime Minister Soomro gave public statements
asking the world community to fulfill pledges made regarding
Kashmiri self-determination. Soomro urged India move beyond
confidence measures, arguing that the peace process should
achieve more than reaffirmations of good intent. Rallies in
the northern areas were peaceful and small.
3. (U) Many groups used the holiday as an excuse to
promulgate non-Kashmir political platforms. Approximately two
hundred ex-servicemen, reportedly including a few retired
Army generals, protested near the Army General Headquarters
in Rawalpindi. They chanted anti-Musharraf statements,
accused the President of damaging Kashmir's cause, and
demanded his resignation. Jamaat-I-Islami (JI) chief Qazi
Hussein led a procession toward the Islamabad residence of
deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, where he lobbied for
a free and restored judiciary (along with a free Kashmir).
PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain promised that if the
PML-Q came to power after the elections, they would devise a
new national Kashmir strategy to solve the dispute,
incorporating views from all political parties.
4. (C) Comment: Most of the pro-Kashmir rallies this year can
be attributed to continued electioneering. However, the
holiday actitives also provided a half-hearted media show
intended to re-energize the Kashmir issue in front of the
international and diplomatic community. End Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL IN
SUBJECT: ANOTHER QUIET KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 sparked
small and mostly peaceful rallies in Islamabad. Although
Pakistani politicians, as expected, called for international
intervention and concessions from India, most of the
demonstrations were a front for political statements
pertaining to the coming elections. End summary.
2. (U) Kashmir Solidarity Day, a Pakistani public holiday,
yielded lackluster and peaceful rallies across Pakistan on
February 5. Pakistani police in Rawalpindi beefed up
security to deter terrorist attacks. In Islamabad, three
hundred Kashmiris under police escort protested in front of
the Indian High Comission within the diplomatic enclave.
Participants in another Islamabad rally demanded
implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. All of
Pakistan observed a one-minute moment of silence at 10:00 AM,
during which all rail and road traffic was halted. Musharraf
and Caretaker Prime Minister Soomro gave public statements
asking the world community to fulfill pledges made regarding
Kashmiri self-determination. Soomro urged India move beyond
confidence measures, arguing that the peace process should
achieve more than reaffirmations of good intent. Rallies in
the northern areas were peaceful and small.
3. (U) Many groups used the holiday as an excuse to
promulgate non-Kashmir political platforms. Approximately two
hundred ex-servicemen, reportedly including a few retired
Army generals, protested near the Army General Headquarters
in Rawalpindi. They chanted anti-Musharraf statements,
accused the President of damaging Kashmir's cause, and
demanded his resignation. Jamaat-I-Islami (JI) chief Qazi
Hussein led a procession toward the Islamabad residence of
deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, where he lobbied for
a free and restored judiciary (along with a free Kashmir).
PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain promised that if the
PML-Q came to power after the elections, they would devise a
new national Kashmir strategy to solve the dispute,
incorporating views from all political parties.
4. (C) Comment: Most of the pro-Kashmir rallies this year can
be attributed to continued electioneering. However, the
holiday actitives also provided a half-hearted media show
intended to re-energize the Kashmir issue in front of the
international and diplomatic community. End Comment.
PATTERSON