Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON957
2008-04-02 15:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
HMG VIEWS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN AS "BETTER THAN EXPECTED"; DESCRIBES NEW PM AS "SOLID"
how-toVZCZCXRO1349 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHLO #0957 0931540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021540Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8124 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0794 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0657 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0050 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0018 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0068
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000957
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PK AND EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, PHUM, PK, AF, UK
SUBJECT: HMG VIEWS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN AS "BETTER THAN
EXPECTED"; DESCRIBES NEW PM AS "SOLID"
Classified By: DCM Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000957
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PK AND EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, PHUM, PK, AF, UK
SUBJECT: HMG VIEWS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN AS "BETTER THAN
EXPECTED"; DESCRIBES NEW PM AS "SOLID"
Classified By: DCM Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) FCO Political Director Mark Lyall Grant told DCM
that the current overall situation in Pakistan was better
than he expected it would be a month ago, and described PPP
leader Zardari as a "skillful politician," working to strike
a balance between President Musharraf and PML leader Sharif.
He described PM Gillani as "solid," and FM Quereshi as
"intelligent." Also encouraging is the fact that parties
from the frontier areas such as the ANP are increasingly
engaged in central government activity. One potential
problem is that Zardari may be playing both sides of the
street by telling the President that he will not be sidelined
and Sharif that it will be up to the judiciary to decide.
2. (C/NF) The UK is expending considerable effort in
helping to stabilize the environment in Islamabad - the Home
Secretary will visit next week and the Foreign Secretary two
SIPDIS
weeks later. HMG is also urging that Pakistan be reinstated
into the Commonwealth given the "acceptable" elections,
probably foregoing a Commonwealth ministerial visit that had
been a precondition. HMG also continues to implement is
considerable aid program, through DfID, and security
assistance program through the MOD. Lyall Grant said good
coordination with the U.S. on these was occurring in Pakistan
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PK AND EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, PHUM, PK, AF, UK
SUBJECT: HMG VIEWS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN AS "BETTER THAN
EXPECTED"; DESCRIBES NEW PM AS "SOLID"
Classified By: DCM Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) FCO Political Director Mark Lyall Grant told DCM
that the current overall situation in Pakistan was better
than he expected it would be a month ago, and described PPP
leader Zardari as a "skillful politician," working to strike
a balance between President Musharraf and PML leader Sharif.
He described PM Gillani as "solid," and FM Quereshi as
"intelligent." Also encouraging is the fact that parties
from the frontier areas such as the ANP are increasingly
engaged in central government activity. One potential
problem is that Zardari may be playing both sides of the
street by telling the President that he will not be sidelined
and Sharif that it will be up to the judiciary to decide.
2. (C/NF) The UK is expending considerable effort in
helping to stabilize the environment in Islamabad - the Home
Secretary will visit next week and the Foreign Secretary two
SIPDIS
weeks later. HMG is also urging that Pakistan be reinstated
into the Commonwealth given the "acceptable" elections,
probably foregoing a Commonwealth ministerial visit that had
been a precondition. HMG also continues to implement is
considerable aid program, through DfID, and security
assistance program through the MOD. Lyall Grant said good
coordination with the U.S. on these was occurring in Pakistan
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle