Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL2094
2008-08-07 08:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
KARZAI HOPES TO BOLSTER GILANI IN FACE OF AFGHAN
how-toVZCZCXRO5318 OO RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #2094 2200823 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070823Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5043 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002094
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A,
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF PK
SUBJECT: KARZAI HOPES TO BOLSTER GILANI IN FACE OF AFGHAN
MEDIA AND OPPOSITION IRE
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002094
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A,
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF PK
SUBJECT: KARZAI HOPES TO BOLSTER GILANI IN FACE OF AFGHAN
MEDIA AND OPPOSITION IRE
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Engineer Ibrahim
Spinzada told us August 5 Karzai hopes his SAARC Summit
rapprochement with Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani would
bolster Pakistan's new civilian leadership in its contest
with the military and the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate (ISI). Karzai has received widespread and strong
criticism from both the media and parliamentary opposition
over his decision to meet Gilani and agreeing to renew
suspended bilateral talks. Spinzada dismissed the criticism
as political posturing.
2. (SBU) Junbesh MP Mohammad Shakar Kargar dismissed the
Karzai-Gilani meeting as meaningless. Both leaders, he said,
are exceptionally weak; Gilani cannot even exercise
discipline over his own coalition. Kargar complained that
restarting bilateral meetings "may please the United States,"
but they will do nothing to eliminate the threat Pakistan
poses to Afghanistan. Several Afghan newspapers railed
against Karzai for defying the will of the Afghan Council of
Ministers and the Afghan people. The Council of Ministers on
July 14 had suspended three bilateral meetings: the
Canadian-mediated G8 Joint Border Cooperation Meeting, which
had been scheduled for July 23-24 in Dubai, the Joint
Economic Cooperation Commission scheduled for July 26-27 in
Kabul, and the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference
(RECC) scheduled for August 26-27 in Islamabad.
3. (C) Spinzada reaffirmed Karzai,s intention to reschedule
the meetings announced in Colombo. That intention may take
time to trickle down to the GIRoA,s senior working level.
Afghan Deputy Minister of Commerce for Foreign Trade Azim
Wardak registered his personal willingness to proceed with
the RECC, but doubted the August dates could be salvaged.
WOOD
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A,
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF PK
SUBJECT: KARZAI HOPES TO BOLSTER GILANI IN FACE OF AFGHAN
MEDIA AND OPPOSITION IRE
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Engineer Ibrahim
Spinzada told us August 5 Karzai hopes his SAARC Summit
rapprochement with Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani would
bolster Pakistan's new civilian leadership in its contest
with the military and the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate (ISI). Karzai has received widespread and strong
criticism from both the media and parliamentary opposition
over his decision to meet Gilani and agreeing to renew
suspended bilateral talks. Spinzada dismissed the criticism
as political posturing.
2. (SBU) Junbesh MP Mohammad Shakar Kargar dismissed the
Karzai-Gilani meeting as meaningless. Both leaders, he said,
are exceptionally weak; Gilani cannot even exercise
discipline over his own coalition. Kargar complained that
restarting bilateral meetings "may please the United States,"
but they will do nothing to eliminate the threat Pakistan
poses to Afghanistan. Several Afghan newspapers railed
against Karzai for defying the will of the Afghan Council of
Ministers and the Afghan people. The Council of Ministers on
July 14 had suspended three bilateral meetings: the
Canadian-mediated G8 Joint Border Cooperation Meeting, which
had been scheduled for July 23-24 in Dubai, the Joint
Economic Cooperation Commission scheduled for July 26-27 in
Kabul, and the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference
(RECC) scheduled for August 26-27 in Islamabad.
3. (C) Spinzada reaffirmed Karzai,s intention to reschedule
the meetings announced in Colombo. That intention may take
time to trickle down to the GIRoA,s senior working level.
Afghan Deputy Minister of Commerce for Foreign Trade Azim
Wardak registered his personal willingness to proceed with
the RECC, but doubted the August dates could be salvaged.
WOOD