Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KARACHI45
2009-02-09 07:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
SINDH - IRANIAN AMBASSADOR AND IRANIAN CONSUL
how-toVZCZCXRO6029 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHKP #0045 0400708 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090708Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0914 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0376 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0211 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0254 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1797 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2648 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4531 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000045
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - IRANIAN AMBASSADOR AND IRANIAN CONSUL
GENERAL TO KARACHI TAKE DIFFERENT TONES
REF: KARACHI 27
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Stephen Fakan for reasons 1
.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000045
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - IRANIAN AMBASSADOR AND IRANIAN CONSUL
GENERAL TO KARACHI TAKE DIFFERENT TONES
REF: KARACHI 27
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Stephen Fakan for reasons 1
.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: During a January 31 meeting in Karachi,
the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mashallah Shakari, and
the Iranian Consul General to Karachi, Masoud Mohammad
Zamani, adopted different tones when discussing Iran's
relations with the West. While Shakari appeared to mute his
criticism, Zamani used verses by a Pakistani poet to
reinforce strong anti-Western rhetoric. They may represent
different factions or simply different classes of society,
but their approach contrasted enough that Post took note.
End summary.
2. (C) During a January 31 seminar on the "30th Anniversary
of the Islamic Revolution in Iran," held at the Pakistan
Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) in Karachi, Iranian
Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakari and Iranian Consul
General to Karachi Masoud Mohammad Zamani took markedly
different approaches when discussing Iranian relations with
the West.
Iranian Ambassador Offers Muted Criticism
--------------
3. (C) After opening in Urdu, Shakari continued in English
and appeared to take a more conciliatory line in his comments
regarding the West, harshly criticizing Israeli actions in
Gaza, but bypassing an opportunity to criticize U.S. support
for Israel. He offered only muted criticism of U.S. and NATO
forces in Afghanistan, opining that "force is not the answer"
to the insurgency there. He lauded the success of the
"Islamic Revolution" in weaning Iran away from outside
influences and told the audience of around 60 that his
country wanted a stable Pakistan.
Iranian Consul General Speaks Out
--------------
4. (C) In contrast, Zamani delivered a harsher condemnation
of the West. Speaking entirely in Urdu, which appeared to
connect with many in the audience, he quoted verses by Allama
Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet, condemning imperialism. The
bearded Zamani, who contrasted with the clean shaven Shakari,
cautioned that widespread use of English in Pakistan is
threatening the Urdu language. He told the crowd that the
"blue-eyed, fair skinned ones" have emphasized English to cut
them off from leading poets, whose Persian verse harshly
condemned imperialism. When a PIIA employee later attempted
to translate the speech into English for the audience, she
was shouted down by an irate attendee and then truncated her
translation.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The difference in style between the two envoys was
pronounced. The event was co-sponsored by the Pak-Iran
Friendship Association, so it is likely that both knew they
were playing to a sympathetic crowd with license to speak
bluntly. Shakari may represent a more moderate faction than
Zamani, or he could simply be more refined. Nonetheless, as
the Iranians appear to be attempting to heighten their
profile in Karachi (reftel),Post considers the contrast
significant enough to merit further observation.
FAKAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - IRANIAN AMBASSADOR AND IRANIAN CONSUL
GENERAL TO KARACHI TAKE DIFFERENT TONES
REF: KARACHI 27
Classified By: Classified by Consul General Stephen Fakan for reasons 1
.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: During a January 31 meeting in Karachi,
the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mashallah Shakari, and
the Iranian Consul General to Karachi, Masoud Mohammad
Zamani, adopted different tones when discussing Iran's
relations with the West. While Shakari appeared to mute his
criticism, Zamani used verses by a Pakistani poet to
reinforce strong anti-Western rhetoric. They may represent
different factions or simply different classes of society,
but their approach contrasted enough that Post took note.
End summary.
2. (C) During a January 31 seminar on the "30th Anniversary
of the Islamic Revolution in Iran," held at the Pakistan
Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) in Karachi, Iranian
Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakari and Iranian Consul
General to Karachi Masoud Mohammad Zamani took markedly
different approaches when discussing Iranian relations with
the West.
Iranian Ambassador Offers Muted Criticism
--------------
3. (C) After opening in Urdu, Shakari continued in English
and appeared to take a more conciliatory line in his comments
regarding the West, harshly criticizing Israeli actions in
Gaza, but bypassing an opportunity to criticize U.S. support
for Israel. He offered only muted criticism of U.S. and NATO
forces in Afghanistan, opining that "force is not the answer"
to the insurgency there. He lauded the success of the
"Islamic Revolution" in weaning Iran away from outside
influences and told the audience of around 60 that his
country wanted a stable Pakistan.
Iranian Consul General Speaks Out
--------------
4. (C) In contrast, Zamani delivered a harsher condemnation
of the West. Speaking entirely in Urdu, which appeared to
connect with many in the audience, he quoted verses by Allama
Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet, condemning imperialism. The
bearded Zamani, who contrasted with the clean shaven Shakari,
cautioned that widespread use of English in Pakistan is
threatening the Urdu language. He told the crowd that the
"blue-eyed, fair skinned ones" have emphasized English to cut
them off from leading poets, whose Persian verse harshly
condemned imperialism. When a PIIA employee later attempted
to translate the speech into English for the audience, she
was shouted down by an irate attendee and then truncated her
translation.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The difference in style between the two envoys was
pronounced. The event was co-sponsored by the Pak-Iran
Friendship Association, so it is likely that both knew they
were playing to a sympathetic crowd with license to speak
bluntly. Shakari may represent a more moderate faction than
Zamani, or he could simply be more refined. Nonetheless, as
the Iranians appear to be attempting to heighten their
profile in Karachi (reftel),Post considers the contrast
significant enough to merit further observation.
FAKAN