Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KARACHI102
2009-03-30 01:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH BALOCHISTAN GOVERNOR

Tags:  PGOV PTER PREL PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3230
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKP #0102/01 0890158
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 300158Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0980
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0440
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0245
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0288
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1833
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2686
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4569
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000102 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH BALOCHISTAN GOVERNOR

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ
FOR REASONS 1.4 b and d.

Summary:
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000102

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH BALOCHISTAN GOVERNOR

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ
FOR REASONS 1.4 b and d.

Summary:
--------------


1. (C) During a March 19 meeting with the Ambassador,
Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Magsi suggested
targeting new USG development assistance at improving water
resources and agricultural productivity. Magsi, a tribal
chief, downplayed the benefit of building schools and
hospitals for a migratory population. He claimed the media
had exaggerated the extent of the nationalist insurgency and
suggested the federal government allow the province more
leeway in conducting its operations. Magsi also voiced
support for using tribal levies to police rural areas.

Water, Agricultural Development Assistance Needed
-------------- --------------


2. (C) On March 19, the Ambassador met with Balochistan
Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Magsi at his office in Quetta.
The Ambassador told the Governor that the USG planned to
increase troop presence in southern Afghanistan and shipment
of supplies to Afghanistan through Chaman. She outlined USG
plans to increase assistance projects in the province. Magsi
responded enthusiastically to the possibility of additional
USG funding.


3. (C) He pointed to water development projects, such as
dams and wells, as his province's most pressing need and
advised that this should come before other efforts such as
construction of schools and hospitals. Magsi explained that
critical water shortages were causing substantial population
migrations in Balochistan. Lack of potable water has
additionally been a factor in the spread of many diseases.


4. (C) Magsi also asked for help developing the province's
agricultural sector. He opined that this type of assistance
would be more valuable than building schools or hospitals,
since much of the population is migratory and could not
benefit as much from fixed structures. Magsi added that
market access is an important development issue for the
province. For sustained, long-term development, the
government has to address its political and security issues,
he advised.

Baloch Nationalist Insurgency Overblown
--------------


5. (C) Noting that the latest Baloch insurgency began under
the previous military government of Musharraf, Magsi said the
provincial government is working with the federal government
to try to resolve it. He pointed out that the insurgency is
not mainstream, but limited to one or two tribes ) mainly
the Bugtis and the Marris. The main areas of conflict, Magsi
noted, are Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts and some parts of
Quetta. He complained that media reporting has exaggerated
the problem.


6. (C) One of the most prevalent issues fueling the
insurgency, he explained, has been the long-standing dispute
between the federal and provincial governments over the
division of natural resources. (Comment: Baloch
nationalists claim that the GOP is exploiting the province's
natural resources, particularly natural gas, with little
benefit to its inhabitants. End comment.) Magsi suggested
that federal government does not have the confidence in the
provincial government to allow it to run its own affairs.

Tribal Levies Emphasized
--------------


7. (C) Security improvements have been hampered by a corrupt
police force, he claimed. To remedy this, Magsi said the
provincial government is promoting tribal levies to provide
security. Under this plan, police will be responsible for
urban areas, such as the city of Quetta. Levies, which will
be under the authority of district administrations, will
police rural areas. Magsi believes the levies, subject to
closer local oversight, will be less likely to be corrupted.

KARACHI 00000102 002 OF 002



Comment
--------------


8. (C) Magsi, a tribal chief and relative of Marri tribal
chief and nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri, has twice
served as Chief Minister of Balochistan and spent 17 years in
the Provincial Assembly. For part of that period, he was
provincial Minister for Education, Planning and Development.
Although he appears to favor the traditional tribal
structure, which has been cited as a hindrance to
development, Magsi has gained a reputation as a moderator in
the conflict between the provincial and federal government
over resource allocation.
RODRIGUEZ