Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD2501
2009-10-16 05:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PML-N PRAISES KERRY-LUGAR'S INTENTIONS, CRITICIZES
how-toVZCZCXRO1510 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2501 2890515 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 160515Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5366 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1010 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1533 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 5603 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2385 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 7987 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 7024 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002501
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: PML-N PRAISES KERRY-LUGAR'S INTENTIONS, CRITICIZES
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS DURING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002501
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: PML-N PRAISES KERRY-LUGAR'S INTENTIONS, CRITICIZES
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS DURING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE
1. (U) National Assembly debate on the Kerry-Lugar bill
continued on October 14. PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal adopted
a somewhat more conciliatory tone toward the legislation than
his party had taken during previous debate sessions.
2. (U) Iqbal praised Kerry-Lugar as "a very good document"
with good intentions, but criticized its "presumption" that
Pakistan supports terrorism. He argued that parliamentary
debate on Kerry-Lugar should have taken place before the
legislation's passage, and described the current debate as
"ex-post-facto" and thus inconsequential. Iqbal said that
Kerry-Lugar's passage should have been a diplomatic coup for
the government, but instead turned into a diplomatic fiasco
becaus the government failed to take the political parties
into confidence. Just as Kerry-Lugar was a bipartisan effort
in the U.S., so too the Pakistani government should have
consulted in advance with all the parties. Iqbal charged
that even PPP's allies had been left in the dark and that the
government had negotiated secretly with the U.S. on the bill.
3. (U) Iqbal objected to specific provisions of Kerry-Lugar
that, he maintained, suggest Pakistan supports terrorism and
extremism, and questioned why the U.S. or any country would
want to befriend Pakistan if it were a terrorist state. As
he put it, "Friends should not be called terrorists." Iqbal
also objected to Kerry-Lugar provisions related to
non-proliferation, asking how it would be possible to make
certifications about Pakistan's nuclear program without
granting the U.S. access to it.
4. (U) Iqbal expressed concern about Kerry-Lugar provisions
on Pakistan's need to deny safe-haven to terrorists and what
he termed the use of "all elements of national power" to
achieve this end. He asked, "Isn't this bill empowering the
U.S. to strike inside of Pakistan?" Iqbal requested copies
of four agreements between DOD and the Pakistani military
referenced in Kerry-Lugar, as well as three referenced
September 30, 2006 Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs).
(Note: These LOAs are for Pakistan's F-16 purchase. End
Note.)
5. (U) Despite his reservations, Iqbal said that there is a
mutual desire for good relations between the U.S. and
Pakistan. However, strengthening the relationship requires
"mutual respect." He concluded by saying that Pakistan
should seek a bilateral treaty with the U.S.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK
SUBJECT: PML-N PRAISES KERRY-LUGAR'S INTENTIONS, CRITICIZES
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS DURING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATE
1. (U) National Assembly debate on the Kerry-Lugar bill
continued on October 14. PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal adopted
a somewhat more conciliatory tone toward the legislation than
his party had taken during previous debate sessions.
2. (U) Iqbal praised Kerry-Lugar as "a very good document"
with good intentions, but criticized its "presumption" that
Pakistan supports terrorism. He argued that parliamentary
debate on Kerry-Lugar should have taken place before the
legislation's passage, and described the current debate as
"ex-post-facto" and thus inconsequential. Iqbal said that
Kerry-Lugar's passage should have been a diplomatic coup for
the government, but instead turned into a diplomatic fiasco
becaus the government failed to take the political parties
into confidence. Just as Kerry-Lugar was a bipartisan effort
in the U.S., so too the Pakistani government should have
consulted in advance with all the parties. Iqbal charged
that even PPP's allies had been left in the dark and that the
government had negotiated secretly with the U.S. on the bill.
3. (U) Iqbal objected to specific provisions of Kerry-Lugar
that, he maintained, suggest Pakistan supports terrorism and
extremism, and questioned why the U.S. or any country would
want to befriend Pakistan if it were a terrorist state. As
he put it, "Friends should not be called terrorists." Iqbal
also objected to Kerry-Lugar provisions related to
non-proliferation, asking how it would be possible to make
certifications about Pakistan's nuclear program without
granting the U.S. access to it.
4. (U) Iqbal expressed concern about Kerry-Lugar provisions
on Pakistan's need to deny safe-haven to terrorists and what
he termed the use of "all elements of national power" to
achieve this end. He asked, "Isn't this bill empowering the
U.S. to strike inside of Pakistan?" Iqbal requested copies
of four agreements between DOD and the Pakistani military
referenced in Kerry-Lugar, as well as three referenced
September 30, 2006 Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs).
(Note: These LOAs are for Pakistan's F-16 purchase. End
Note.)
5. (U) Despite his reservations, Iqbal said that there is a
mutual desire for good relations between the U.S. and
Pakistan. However, strengthening the relationship requires
"mutual respect." He concluded by saying that Pakistan
should seek a bilateral treaty with the U.S.
PATTERSON