

Currently released so far... 12559 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AR
AF
ASEC
AMBASSADOR
AS
AJ
AM
AORC
AEMR
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AFIN
AMGT
AODE
APEC
AE
ABLD
ACBAQ
APECO
AFSI
AFSN
AY
AO
ABUD
AG
AC
APER
AU
AMED
ATRN
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
AL
ASUP
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ACOA
AADP
ASCH
AA
AFU
AN
AID
ALOW
AINF
AMG
AIT
ANET
AGAO
AROC
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
AMCHAMS
ACS
APCS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
ACABQ
AGMT
AX
AMEX
ADM
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
BR
BK
BL
BA
BO
BRUSSELS
BM
BEXP
BU
BG
BB
BTIO
BF
BD
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BP
BE
BH
BT
BY
BILAT
BWC
BN
BMGT
BTIU
BC
CI
CU
CO
CS
CVIS
CA
CJAN
CARICOM
CB
CASC
CE
CH
CN
CONDOLEEZZA
CMGT
CWC
CW
CG
CACS
CY
CPAS
CFED
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CBW
CONS
CD
CLINTON
CHR
CACM
CDB
COE
CDG
CDC
CAN
CR
CF
CT
CODEL
CJUS
CTM
CM
CLMT
CBC
COUNTERTERRORISM
CAPC
CAC
COUNTER
CV
CL
CBSA
CNARC
CEUDA
COM
CROS
CIA
CARSON
COPUOS
CTR
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CIS
CKGR
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
ECA
EU
ENRG
EPET
ETTC
ETRD
ELN
ELAB
EC
EFIN
ECON
EFIS
ELTN
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
EMIN
EINV
EAID
EG
EUN
ECPS
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ENIV
ECIN
EAIR
EI
ECUN
EFTA
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ES
ELECTIONS
EN
EIAR
ET
EINDETRD
EUR
EZ
EREL
ER
ECONEFIN
EINT
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
EPA
ENVR
EINVETC
ETRC
ENVI
ECONCS
ECONOMIC
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ESA
ECINECONCS
EAIG
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUREM
ESENV
ETRN
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EEPET
ENERG
EUC
EUNCH
EXIM
ERD
ERNG
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EXBS
IIP
IC
IR
IN
IAEA
IS
IT
IMF
IBRD
IZ
IWC
ISRAELI
INTERPOL
IO
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ILO
IPR
IQ
IV
IRS
INRB
ICAO
IMO
ID
IZPREL
IRAJ
ICTY
ICRC
IAHRC
ITF
INR
IGAD
ILC
ITU
IF
ITPHUM
IL
INTERNAL
ISRAEL
IACI
ICJ
ITRA
INMARSAT
ICTR
IA
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IBET
INRA
INRO
IDP
INDO
IRC
IDA
ITPGOV
IEA
KPAO
KCRM
KNNP
KCOR
KIRF
KISL
KSCA
KDEM
KDEMAF
KZ
KBTR
KUNR
KMDR
KRVC
KPAL
KTIA
KV
KJUS
KOMC
KTFN
KWBG
KTIP
KMPI
KSUM
KIRC
KE
KIPR
KWMN
KFRD
KSEP
KN
KOLY
KPKO
KIDE
KMRS
KFLU
KSAF
KGIC
KRAD
KU
KHLS
KOCI
KSTH
KS
KGHG
KAWC
KICC
KG
KSPR
KPRP
KDRG
KGIT
KVPR
KGCC
KSEO
KMCA
KSTC
KBIO
KHIV
KBCT
KPAI
KICA
KTDB
KACT
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KHUM
KFLO
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KPIN
KCOM
KESS
KDEV
KCFE
KNUC
KAWK
KPLS
KWWMN
KCIP
KPRV
KHDP
KTEX
KFIN
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KLIG
KMIG
KDDG
KRGY
KFSC
KR
KMOC
KPAONZ
KNAR
KIFR
KCGC
KID
KSAC
KAID
KNSD
KWMNCS
KCMR
KO
KNEI
KPOA
KTER
KOMS
KPAK
KTBT
KWMM
KWAC
KHSA
KX
KMFO
KPWR
KRIM
KSCI
KVRP
KENV
KCRCM
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
MARR
MX
MOPS
MNUC
MZ
MASS
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MIL
MTCRE
MCAP
MAS
MO
MTCR
MD
MK
MP
MY
MR
MT
MCC
MIK
MU
ML
MARAD
MA
MAPS
MV
MERCOSUR
MASC
MPOS
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MEPP
MRCRE
MEDIA
MAPP
MTRE
MEPN
MI
MC
MUCN
MAR
MASSMNUC
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
NATO
NL
NZ
NI
NU
NO
NPT
NRR
NA
NATIONAL
NIPP
NAFTA
NT
NS
NE
NASA
NSF
NP
NAR
NV
NORAD
NG
NSSP
NW
NK
NDP
NR
NATOPREL
NEW
NPA
NPG
NSG
NSFO
NGO
NSC
NH
NZUS
NC
OFDA
OTRA
OPRC
OIIP
OAS
OPDC
OVIP
OEXC
OPIC
OSCE
OPCW
OREP
OFFICIALS
ODIP
OECD
OMIG
OFDP
OBSP
OIE
OSCI
OES
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OIC
ON
OCII
OCS
OTR
OSAC
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PHUM
PA
PBTS
PINS
PM
PREF
PHSA
PK
POL
PL
PE
PFOR
PALESTINIAN
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNAT
PNR
PROP
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PSOE
PU
POGOV
PMIL
PINL
PHUMPREL
PGIV
PBT
PAK
PP
PGOC
PY
PLN
PMAR
PHUH
PBIO
PF
PRL
PG
PHUS
PTBS
PRAM
POV
PEL
PAS
POLICY
PGGV
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PSA
PDOV
PCI
PREO
PAHO
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPGOV
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PARMS
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PINF
PNG
RU
RS
RICE
RW
RCMP
RO
RFE
RP
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
REGION
RUPREL
RF
RELATIONS
RM
REACTION
ROOD
REPORT
RSO
RSP
SNAR
SENV
SOCI
SCUL
SY
SR
SU
SO
SP
SA
SZ
SF
SMIG
SW
SIPDIS
STEINBERG
SN
SNARIZ
SG
SNARN
SSA
SK
SI
SPCVIS
SOFA
SC
SL
SARS
SNARCS
SIPRS
SYR
SANC
SEVN
SWE
SHI
SEN
SHUM
SYRIA
SH
SPCE
SAARC
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
TW
TRGY
TU
TPHY
TBIO
TX
TN
TSPL
TC
TZ
TSPA
TS
TF
TI
TIP
TH
TINT
TNGD
TP
TD
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TL
TV
TT
TERRORISM
TR
THPY
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
UK
UP
US
UNSC
UNHCR
USEU
UNGA
UG
UY
UNESCO
UN
USTR
USOAS
UZ
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNHRC
UNDESCO
UNMIK
UNDP
UNC
UNO
UNAUS
UV
UNICEF
UNCHR
UNDC
UNCHC
UNPUOS
USUN
USNC
UNCSD
UNCND
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07ISLAMABAD3224, PRIME MINISTER: GOP COMMITTED 200 PERCENT TO
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07ISLAMABAD3224.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07ISLAMABAD3224 | 2007-07-25 14:03 | 2011-05-05 01:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Islamabad |
Appears in these articles: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1991242.ece |
VZCZCXRO2068
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3224/01 2061403
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251403Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0667
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7355
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1420
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 6811
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2957
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1375
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003224
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ENRG PK
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER: GOP COMMITTED 200 PERCENT TO
FIGHTING TERRORISM
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b), (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador, DCM and Economic Counselor (notetaker) met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at his request at his residence July 24. Aziz took Ambassador to task over recent statements by U.S. officials regarding terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan. Aziz stressed to Ambassador that these statements make the job of fighting terrorism far more difficult for his government, which is "committed 200 percent to fighting terrorism." Ambassador said that she understood the statements had provoked a negative reaction in the Pakistani press, but that they reflected wide concern about the situation in Pakistan. Ambassador added that she would report what Aziz had said. Aziz also urged greater efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), pointing to the considerable resources Pakistan is devoting, and reiterated that the government will abide by the Supreme Court ruling on the Chief Justice case. Ambassador emphasized U.S. support for the government's efforts in the FATA. Aziz said that the India-Pakistan-Iran pipeline is a part of Pakistan's energy supply strategy. End Summary.
U.S. statements over the weekend
--------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador, DCM and Economic Counselor (notetaker) met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at his request at his residence July 24. Foreign Minister Kasuri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Additional Secretary Zamir Akram, Principal Secretary Halid Saeed, and MFA Director General-Americas Sohail Mahmood (notetaker) also participated.
¶3. (C) Aziz told Ambassador that the Pakistani government has already expressed its views on the various U.S. statements about Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism and would not react to individual statements from U.S. officials. He criticized these statements for making the government's job far more difficult and giving a boost to the religious parties, especially outside Islamabad. While Pakistan will not allow its territory to be a safe haven, it will not permit foreign troops to operate here either. Aziz stressed that the government is committed to cooperation on counter-terrorism activities. Aziz particularly emphasized intelligence cooperation as a major asset. He pointed that while the government has no information that Osama bin-Laden is in Pakistan, he could be anywhere along Pakistan and Afghanistan's 1400 mile border. However, if there is intelligence that he is in Pakistan, the government will find him. "Pakistan is committed 200 percent to fight terrorism," Aziz stated. The counter-terrorism fight is in our national interest and we "fight out of conviction."
¶4. (C) Aziz added that more U.S. statements will have an unwelcome effect on certain sectors of the Pakistani public. He said these statements made it more difficult to fight terrorism because the Pakistani government was seen as doing this at the behest of the Americans. Ambassador said she recognized that the statements had played badly in the Pakistani press -- every single Urdu newspaper monitored in the embassy had had an editorial expressing its strong defense of Pakistani sovereignty -- but the statements reflected U.S. concern about the developments in the FATA. When she commented on the Urdu language press, Aziz replied that the press does not fully convey the extreme public reaction, and stories on the street about American intervention are worse. Ambassador said that she would report what he said but as a practical matter, which Aziz understood after his many years living in our country, U.S. officials would continue to speak about whatever topic they wanted.
¶5. (C) Aziz then said that many reporters were telling him that there was a purposeful campaign of leaks by "American intelligence officials" against Pakistan. He said he had heard this fact a number of times from American reporters who called him for comment on these allegations. Ambassador agreed that leaks were very damaging and that in her experience they seemed particularly bad in Pakistan's case -- she mentioned as an example the conclusions of the highly classified National Intelligence Estimate which had leaked immediately to the press -- but again, there was little she or anyone else could do about them. She emphasized that the official statement of U.S. government policy was the
ISLAMABAD 00003224 002 OF 003
President's Saturday radio address which had unusually been devoted to Pakistan and was very positive about the relationship. Aziz said they had read this carefully and were appreciative of the President's remarks.
Red Mosque fallout
------------------
¶6. (C) Aziz described the decision to intervene militarily in the Red Mosque as one of the government's most difficult and was made after a long debate involving President Musharraf. The government's strategy to limit casualties and get the majority of the hostages out worked, with only 77 casualties. He said that he will attend prayers at the mosque on July 26 prior to reopening to the public the following day. Violent reactions to the incident did not surprise the government, but he felt that, on the whole, public opinion about the government's actions was positive.
¶7. (C) As a result of the Red Mosque incident, the government is now putting into place a series of schools to supplant the madrassa system. While acknowledging the role of religious education, Aziz explained that the government needs to win "hearts and minds." He had spoken with some of the young 16 to 18 year olds displaced from the Red Mosque's madrassa and was struck by their lack of contact with the outside world. All of these students came from the northern provinces; a sizeable number were orphans. At these new schools, students can either board or attend day school; will be taught by relatively well-paid, qualified teachers; and each orphaned student will receive 1000 rupees per month while parents of students will receive 2000 rupees per month.
Events in the north
-------------------
¶8. (C) Aziz emphasized that the government will show zero tolerance for any attacks, and had begun to move additional troops to the north several weeks ago. However, the area is still under-policed and the government is hiring additional officers. At one point, there were only 160 government forces engaged in a pitched battle against 8200 insurgents. Ambassador assured U.S. support, pointing out that the U.S. is delivering equipment and constructing a training center. She and Aziz agreed that additional assistance needs to be put in place quickly, in much the same way that the earthquake assistance was deployed. DCM added that the earthquake example of using senior officials to disburse aid would be effective in the FATA as well. Ambassador added that significant international donor support for FATA activities is emerging.
Supreme Court verdict
---------------------
¶9. (C) Echoing his public statements about the Chief Justice issue, Aziz said that the government "would move on" after the Supreme Court verdict in the Chief Justice case.
Pakistan's energy concerns
--------------------------
¶10. (C) Aziz segued into Pakistan's energy needs. He said that the economy continues to grow, making energy supplies a major concern. He noted that sales of fans and air conditioners are growing at 16 percent annually, twice the economic growth rate. Aziz made the case for purchasing energy from Iran and for the India-Pakistan-Iran pipeline. Characterizing the Iranians as tough negotiators and unafraid to backtrack, Aziz could not predict whether work on the the pipeline would begin in months or years, but commented that it is moving ahead more quickly than expected. Describing Iranian gas as an essential part of Pakistan's diversification and energy strategy, Aziz said he did not anticipate any Pakistani investment in Iran or vice-versa. He added that Pakistan is looking at domestic exploration and other sources, but he did not hold out much hope for Turkmen gas, given the situation in Afghanistan. Ambassador reiterated U.S. government opposition to the pipeline and said she understood that talks had been underway since 1993, so perhaps a deal was not imminent.
Comment
-------
ISLAMABAD 00003224 003 OF 003
¶11. (C) Aziz was well aware that there was a difference of opinion on a number of issues covered, but delivered his views in a low-key self-assured manner. He gave the impression that the government is firmly in control of current events, deliberating carefully over next steps, and will proceed normally with the electoral schedule.
PATTERSON