PUNJAB GOVERNOR TASEER TELLS CODEL KYL THAT EXTREMISM IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000072

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/9/2019
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PUNJAB GOVERNOR TASEER TELLS CODEL KYL THAT EXTREMISM IS
LIMITED TO SMALL MINORITY

CLASSIFIED BY: Matthew D. Lowe, Acting Principal Officer,
Consulate Lahore, U.S. Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. Summary (C) Punjab Governor Salman Taseer told a
congressional delegation led by Senator Jon Kyl that only a
small minority in Pakistan supports extremism. He highlighted
assistance to Pakistan's education system as the best way to
counter terrorist recruitment. Taseer also envisioned Pakistan
as a moderate, progressive role model to other Muslim countries.
Senator Kyl stressed that the U.S. will remain engaged in
Pakistan, and that President Obama's strategy has earned
bipartisan support. End Summary.

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Security in Punjab Worrisome
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2. (C) In an April 8 meeting with Punjab Governor Salman Taseer,
Senator Jon Kyl expressed concern over the security situation in
Pakistan, particularly in Punjab in light of recent attack on
the Manawan Training Center. Kyl commended Taseer for his
willingness to speak against extremism and support for the
federal government's initiative to create a counter-terrorism
security force. Governor Taseer insisted that the majority in
Punjab, as well as Pakistan, do not support extremist elements,
as shown by the overwhelming local support for the police after
the attack at the Manawan training center. However, he
acknowledged, "only 5 or 6 madmen can disrupt a population." The
counter-terrorism security force, he explained, would recruit
people from the border regions as they can speak Pashto and can
be used to fight extremists throughout the country.


3. (C) Governor Taseer related that, in addition to the impact
on safety, terrorist incidents also result in a loss of foreign
investment. The proposed Kerry-Lugar legislation would equal
less than the cost that terrorism has had on Pakistani
businesses, he surmised. Representative Jane Harman observed
that this lack of investment may not be entirely the result of
the security situation but might also be the result of the
global economic downturn.

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Sri Lankan Attack Culprits Unidentified
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4. (C) Representative Harman inquired if the police have
identified the perpetrators of the attack on the Sri Lankan
Cricket team in Lahore. Taseer responded the investigation
remains open, but he blamed "sub-educated," religious extremists
that want to embarrass the country on the world stage. "They are
filled with animalistic hysteria that no one understands,"
Taseer lamented. Essentially, he said, a terrorist organization
bought five or six "hit men" for USD 250,000. He pointed out
that the attackers had rocket-propelled grenade launchers, but
did not know how to fire them, which implied poor training.
"They were shooting as if on a Sunday picnic," he recounted.

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Education Key to Fighting Terrorism
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5. (C) Senator Kyl observed that Saudi-funded madrassas have
served to recruit new terrorists and asked Governor Taseer if he
viewed these groups as a serious threat. In a recent
conversation with Ambassador Holbrooke, Taseer stated, he had
stressed that education is the "first soft target" in the fight
against extremists. Taseer detailed that Pakistan has only two
options for those who want an education: "elite" private
institutions or failed state-run schools. As a result, he
continued, madrassas become the only alternative available to
parents who care about education but too poor for private
school. Moreover, madrassas, most of which espouse moderate
philosophies, provide room, board and quality religious
education for students, he noted. He recommended that the U.S.
invest in education in Pakistan on all levels. "Any money that
seeps in creates a good impact," he suggested.

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Pakistan's Democracy Could Be "Role Model" for Muslim World
- - -


6. (C) Senator Kyl asked Governor Taseer what message he would
like to send to the Senate and the people of the United States.
Taseer reiterated that Pakistan has a functioning, "robust,
raucous," democratically elected government without military

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interference. Representative Chris Carney questioned whether the
army will permanently remain out of politics. Taseer stated that
a "rough and tumble democracy" is better than having military
involved. In addition to Turkey, he proposed, Pakistan could
serve as an example of a democratic Muslim country and a "role
model" for the Muslim World. He asked the U.S. to support
democracy, education and remove trade barriers.

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Media Perception of Pakistan in U.S.
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7. (C) Representative John Kline said that the U.S. media
conveys the impression that most Pakistanis support the
militants and asked Taseer how Pakistan can improve its global
image. Taseer underlined that "99 percent of Pakistan" stands
against extremism. Even in Swat, he explained, the population
dislikes the mullahs intensely, "but what can they do against a
couple hundred people with guns?" Taseer added that although
the missile strikes cause very little collateral damage,
Pakistanis believe that they cause hundreds of civilian
casualties, which leads to resentment and a belief that the U.S.
has targeted Muslims.

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Fix the Afghanistan Border
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8. (C) Senator Jeff Sessions stated that Pakistan cannot allow
Afghanistan to deteriorate and urged that Pakistan improve the
monitoring of its border. Taseer responded that everyone must
work together within the region to stabilize Afghanistan and the
solution must come from within Afghanistan. He pointed out that
there are 170 million Muslims in India that also "feel deprived"
and mistreated. If Indian Muslims also "erupted," Taseer
speculated, Pakistan would face crises on both borders and the
extremist movement could sweep across the continent.


9. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, Senator Kyl stated that
the U.S. interest in Pakistan is longstanding, as shown by the
new Obama strategy, which reinforces the U.S. desire to maintain
a strong relationship with Pakistan. Senator Kyl reassured
Taseer that the U.S. is in this for the "long haul" and will not
abandon Pakistan after it achieves its strategic objectives.
Taseer agreed that as a nuclear power with the largest Muslim
army in the world, Pakistan must be on the U.S. screen.


10. (C) Meeting participants:

Pakistan
-- Governor Salman Taseer
U.S.
-- Senator John Kyl
-- Senator Jeff Sessions
-- Representative Jane Harman
-- Representative John Kline
-- Representative Chris Carney
-- Tim Morrison, National Security Policy Advisor to Senator Kyl
-- Jennifer Stewart, National Security Advisor to Rep. Boehner
-- Sandy Luff, Military Legislative Advisor to Senator Sessions
-- CDR C.J. Cassidy, Navy Senate Liaison
-- Lt. Natalie Schultz, Navy Senate Liaison
-- Deputy Chief of Mission Jerry Feierstein
-- Acting Principal Officer Matthew Lowe
-- Political Officer Stephanie Hackenburg, notetaker


11. (SBU) This cable was drafted after Codel Kyl departed post.
LOWE