Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
98ISLAMABAD3474
1998-05-11 10:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

FOREIGN SECRETARY RAPS USG KNUCKLES ON "ONE-SIDEDNESS" OF

Tags:  PREL PTER AF PK 
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O 111017Z MAY 98
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6394
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA J5//
AMCONSUL LAHORE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003474 


DEPT ALSO FOR SA/PAB AND S/CT
LONDON FOR POL:TUELLER
CENTCOM/CINCPAC ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/10/08
TAGS: PREL PTER AF PK
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY RAPS USG KNUCKLES ON "ONE-SIDEDNESS" OF
TERRORISM REPORT

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3446; B. ISLAMABAD 3358

(U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE ALAN EASTHAM. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003474


DEPT ALSO FOR SA/PAB AND S/CT
LONDON FOR POL:TUELLER
CENTCOM/CINCPAC ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/10/08
TAGS: PREL PTER AF PK
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY RAPS USG KNUCKLES ON "ONE-SIDEDNESS" OF
TERRORISM REPORT

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3446; B. ISLAMABAD 3358

(U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE ALAN EASTHAM. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: FOREIGN SECRETARY SHAMSHAD AHMED COMPLAINED TO THE
AMBASSADOR ON MAY 8 ABOUT THE "ONE-SIDED VIEW" OF THE JUST-RELEASED
USG REPORT ON TERRORISM, LAMENTING THAT INDIA WAS PORTRAYED MORE
POSITIVELY THAN PAKISTAN. ACKNOWLEDGING A RECENT RESPITE (WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE APRIL 26/27 KILLINGS OF 22 PEOPLE IN AZAD KASHMIR
-- REF B),SHAMSHAD URGED THE U.S. TO USE ITS INFLUENCE IN DELHI TO
STOP INDIAN SUPPORT FOR CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM. CONCERNING THE
APRIL 26/27 INCIDENT, SHAMSHAD SAID THE GOP HAD CONSCIOUSLY DECIDED
NOT TO RETALIATE, BUT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SUCH RESTRAINT
IF THERE WERE REPEATS OF SUCH INCIDENTS. HE NOTED THAT IN THE
CONTEXT OF INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE, DIALOGUE WITH INDIA WOULD BE
DIFFICULT, BUT HE SAID THE GOP NEVERTHELESS LOOKS FORWARD TO A
SUMMIT MEETING WITH THE INDIANS IN COLOMBO IN JULY TO EXPLORE HOW
TO PROCEED WITH THE DIALOGUE. THE AMBASSADOR APPLAUDED THE GOP
RESTRAINT IN THE WAKE OF THE "SHOCKING" EVENT OF APRIL 26/27 AND
NOTED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD SHAMSHAD'S POINT THAT SUCH RESTRAINT WOULD
NOT BE LIMITLESS IF THERE WERE REPEATS OF SUCH TRAGIC INCIDENTS.
SHIFTING TO AFGHANISTAN, SHAMSHAD SAID THE GOP IS ENHEARTENED BY
THE TALIBAN AGREEMENT TO RELEASE 1000 TONS OF FOOD FOR BAMIYAN AND
SAID ISLAMABAD IS PUSHING FOR A COORDINATORS' MEETING BETWEEN THE
TWO SIDES. (SEE REF A FOR DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE INDEPENDENT
POWER PROJECTS.) END SUMMARY


2. (C) FOREIGN SECRETARY SHAMSHAD AHMED CALLED IN THE AMBASSADOR
MAY 8 TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RECENTLY-RELEASED USG REPORT, "PATTERNS
OF GLOBAL TERRORISM." ACCORDING TO SHAMSHAD, THE REPORT GAVE A
"ONE-SIDED VIEW" OF THE SITUATIONS IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. HE
POINTED OUT THAT THE PAKISTAN SECTION OF THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED
SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AND THE HARAKAT-UL-ANSAR, WHILE THE INDIA
SECTION EMPHASIZED THE MILITANCY IN INDIAN-HELD KASHMIR, WHICH --
SHAMSHAD STRESSED -- IS ACTUALLY "AN INDIGENOUS FREEDOM STRUGGLE."
HE DECRIED THAT THE REPORT REFERRED TO NUMEROUS BOMBINGS IN INDIA
(ASCRIBED TO CROSS-BORDER SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM),WHILE THE REPORT
MAKES NO MENTION OF TERRORIST BOMBINGS IN PAKISTAN, IN WHICH THE

INDIANS HAVE HAD A ROLE, HE ADDED. "WE EXPECTED THE USG TO
UNDERTAKE AN OBJECTIVE REVIEW OF THE SITUATIONS IN BOTH COUNTRIES,"
HE LAMENTED. "WASHINGTON," HE CONTINUED, "MUST USE ITS INFLUENCE
IN DELHI TO STOP GOI SUPPORT FOR CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM."
FINISHING HIS THOUGHT, SHAMSHAD NOTED THAT IN RECENT WEEKS THERE
HAS BEEN A "RESPITE" IN INDIAN-SUPPORTED TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE APRIL 26/27 SLAYINGS OF 22 KASHMIRIS IN
AZAD KASHMIR (REF B).


3. (C) SHUFFLING NOTES, SHAMSHAD GAVE A VIRTUALLY VERBATIM REPEAT
OF A MAY 4 BRIEFING GIVEN BY MFA ADDITIONAL SECRETARY (SOUTH ASIA)
TARIQ ALTAF (AND ATTENDED BY POLOFF) ON THE KILLINGS IN AZAD
KASHMIR. DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AS "VERY SERIOUS," SHAMSHAD SAID
THE INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST "TRANS-LINE OF CONTROL" INCIDENT OF THAT
NATURE -- "THE ATTACK ACROSS THE LOC VIOLATED THE SANCTITY OF THE
LINE OF CONTROL, SOMETHING WHICH MUST BE RESPECTED." PAKISTAN, HE
SAID, HAS MADE A DELIBERATE DECISION NOT TO RETALIATE TO REDUCE
RISKS OF THE SITUATION "GETTING OUT OF CONTROL." HE ADDED THAT THE
INCIDENT HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC OPINION, AND THERE
MUST BE AN IMMEDIATE END TO SUCH EVENTS, WARNING THAT IF THERE ARE
MORE SUCH INCIDENTS, "PAKISTAN WOULD FIND IT HARD NOT TO
RETALIATE." OBSERVING THAT PAKISTAN CONDEMNS TERRORIST ACTS IN
INDIAN-HELD KASHMIR, SHAMSHAD DECLARED THAT THERE IS A "QUALITATIVE
DIFFERENCE" BETWEEN VIOLENT ACTS ON THE INDIAN SIDE -- "THERE'S A
FREEDOM STRUGGLE UNDERWAY THERE" -- AND THE PAK SIDE, "WHERE THERE
IS NO SUCH STRUGGLE."


4. (C) SHIFTING FOCUS, SHAMSHAD ASSERTED THAT "PAKISTAN HAS BEEN
WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO PICK UP THE THREAD OF INDO-PAK
DIALOGUE." HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT DELHI WOULD "ADOPT A SERIOUS
ATTITUDE" TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESUMING THE DIALOGUE.
DECLARING THAT THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN NEED TO BE CONVINCED ON THE
DIALOGUE, SHAMSHAD SAID THAT IN THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE "NO
GOVERNMENT CAN AFFORD TO CARRY ON THE TALKS." SHAMSHAD OBSERVED
THAT ISLAMABAD NEVERTHELESS IS "EARNESTLY LOOKING FORWARD" TO THE
TWO PRIME MINISTERS' MEETING IN COLOMBO "TO EXPLORE THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE." HE SAID ISLAMABAD WOULD SEND
INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS HIGH COMMISSION IN DELHI TO THIS EFFECT, BUT
"ONLY AFTER THE CURRENT PUBLIC ATTITUDE SUBSIDES." WASHINGTON, HE
ADDED, CAN PLAY A ROLE IN KEEPING TEMPERS LOW. RETURNING TO HIS
THEME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, SHAMSHAD SAID WASHINGTON
SHOULD AVOID TAKING PRO-INDIAN STANCES WHICH PROVOKE A PAKISTANI
REACTION, ADDING THAT THE GOP "IS DOING ITS BEST" TO CONTROL THE
PUBLIC REACTION TO THE RECENTLY-ANNOUNCED MTCR-RELATED SANCTIONS ON
KHAN RESEARCH LABORATORIES. THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT THE GOP
SEEMED TO BE SUCCEEDING IN THAT REGARD AS THE REACTION HAS BEEN
"MODEST."


5. (C) RESPONDING TO SHAMSHAD'S LENGTHY MONOLOGUE, THE AMBASSADOR
SAID HE WOULD CONVEY TO WASHINGTON THE GOP'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE
TERRORISM REPORT. DODGING THE AMBASSADOR'S SEVERAL QUESTIONS
CONCERNING WHY THE ATTACKERS IN THE APRIL 26/27 INCIDENT FOCUSSED
ON ONLY TWO FAMILIES, SHAMSHAD SAID THE KILLERS WANTED TO GIVE THE
APPEARANCE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS "AN INSIDE JOB." RESPONDING TO
ANOTHER QUERY, SHAMSHAD SAID THE GOP WAS SURE THE ATTACKERS HAD
COME FROM ACROSS THE LOC -- "WE HAVE INTERCEPTS THAT MAKE THAT
CLEAR," HE NOTED. TERMING THE INCIDENT "SHOCKING AND
UNFORGIVABLE," THE AMBASSADOR APPLAUDED THE RESTRAINT THAT PAKISTAN
HAS EXERCISED IN THE WAKE OF THE INCIDENT, ADDING THAT HE
UNDERSTANDS SHAMSHAD'S POINT THAT SUCH RESTRAINT WOULD NOT BE
LIMITLESS IF SUCH INCIDENTS WERE REPEATED. THE AMBASSADOR
UNDERSCORED THAT THE INCIDENT SHOULD BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR
THE INDO-PAK DIALOGUE. RETURNING YET AGAIN TO HIS THEME OF USG
ONE-SIDEDNESS, SHAMSHAD REGRETTED THAT THE USG HAD NOT ISSUED A
STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE KILLINGS, REITERATING THAT WASHINGTON DOES
NOT MENTION THE INDIAN ROLE IN FOMENTING VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN --
"FOR US THIS IS VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE," HE ADDED.
WARMING TO THIS THEME, SHAMSHAD REGRETTED THE REPORTED WASHINGTON
DENIAL THAT IT WAS CONSIDERING SANCTIONING INDIA ON THE SAGARIKA
MISSILE.

"BREAKTHROUGH ON AFGHANISTAN"
--------------


6. (C) TURNING TO THE RECENT AFGHANISTAN STEERING COMMITTEE TALKS
IN ISLAMABAD BETWEEN THE TALIBAN AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE,
SHAMSHAD SAID THE TALKS HAD BEEN "A GOOD SUCCESS, A MAJOR
BREAKTHROUGH, THE FIRST TIME IN A FEW YEARS THAT THE SIDES SAT
TOGETHER FACE-TO-FACE." HE GAVE THE U.S. AND HIS OWN GOVERNMENT
CREDIT FOR THE MEETINGS. PAKISTAN'S DESIRE, HE ADDED, IS TO
FACILITATE THE AFGHANISTAN DIALOGUE PROCESS, AND HE RECOUNTED PAK
EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT THE TALKS. HE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FIVE
DAYS OF TALKS HAD BEEN "INCONCLUSIVE," ONE SHOULD NOT BE
DISCOURAGED -- "PAKISTAN IS KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH ALL PARTIES."
TAKING CREDIT FOR THE RECENT TALIBAN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY WOULD
ALLOW 1000 TONS OF FOOD AID INTO BAMIYAN PROVINCE, SHAMSHAD SAID
THIS "MAKES QUITE CLEAR THAT IF YOU DEAL WITH THE TALIBAN, THEN YOU
CAN GET EVERYTHING." THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT "MAYBE NOT
EVERYTHING." WHAT IS IMPORTANT, SHAMSHAD UNDERSCORED, IS HOW ONE
DEALS WITH THE TALIBAN. SCORING THE TALIBAN ANNOUNCEMENT AS A
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT, SHAMSHAD SAID THE GOP IS NOW PUSHING FOR A
"COORDINATORS' MEETING" BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES -- "PAKISTAN IS
INTENSIFYING ITS EFFORTS TO GET THE TWO SIDES BACK TOGETHER SOON;
WE MUST NOT LOSE THE MOMENTUM." HE PROMISED TO KEEP THE AMBASSADOR
FULLY INFORMED OF THE GOP'S PROGRESS ON THE AFGHANISTAN FRONT.


7. (C) NOTING AGREEMENT WITH THE GOP ON AFGHANISTAN, THE AMBASSADOR
OBSERVED THAT HE WOULD CHARACTERIZE THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
AS "A STEP FORWARD" RATHER THAN A BREAKTHROUGH. HE ALSO EXPRESSED
APPRECIATION FOR THE GOP'S CONTRIBUTION IN HELPING MAKE THE MEETING
HAPPEN. SHAMSHAD SAID NORTHERN LEADER PROFESSOR RABBANI HAD
RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE TALIBAN ANNOUNCEMENT ON ALLOWING 1000
TONS OF FOOD AID INTO BAMIYAN AND WAS NOW CONSULTING HIS ALLIANCE
COLLEAGUES. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID DIVERGENCE WITHIN THE
NORTHERN ALLIANCE WAS "THE BIGGEST PROBLEM," TO WHICH THE
AMBASSADOR RESPONDED WITH THE OBSERVATION THAT THE TALIBAN, TOO,
HAD TROUBLES WITHIN ITS OWN RANKS. SUPPORTING THE NOTION OF A
COORDINATORS' MEETING, THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT THE U.S. AND
PAKISTAN ARE "ON THE SAME WAVE-LENGTH." THE MOST IMPORTANT THING,
THE AMBASSADOR EMPHASIZED, IS THAT THE SIDES CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN
AGREEMENT ON "NO MILITARY OFFENSIVES." ALL SIDES, HE UNDERSCORED,
MUST STAY FOCUSSED ON THIS ESSENTIAL POINT.


8. (C) DREDGING UP AN OLD THEME, SHAMSHAD CALLED FOR AN ARMS
EMBARGO ON AFGHANISTAN AND ASSERTED THAT PAKISTAN IS READY TO
COOPERATE ON THIS. HE SAID ISLAMABAD IS "SURPRISED" THAT THE SIX
PLUS TWO PROCESS IS "SO CASUAL" ON THE NEED FOR AN EMBARGO.
RESPONDING, THE AMBASSADOR QUOTED UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE LAKHDAR
BRAHIMI AS SAYING THAT IF PAKISTAN AND IRAN AGREE TO CUT OFF ARMS,
THEN THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR AN EMBARGO, AND, WITHOUT PAK-
IRANIAN AGREEMENT, AN EMBARGO WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.


9. (C) COMMENT: THIS MEETING WAS VINTAGE SHAMSHAD, WHO DUTIFULLY--
AND WITH SOME PLEASURE -- LAMBASTED AMERICA ON THE LATEST
PERCEIVED SLIGHT, BUT WAS BEREFT OF ANY FRESH THINKING ON HOW BEST
TO PROCEED IN STRENGTHENING THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP OR ON HOW TO
WORK TOGETHER MOST CONSTRUCTIVELY IN ADVANCING PEACE IN
AFGHANISTAN. BUT, WE HAVE LEARNED NOT TO EXPECT TOO MUCH.


EASTHAM