C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001123
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, PK
SUBJECT: CODEL LEAHY MEETS PRESIDENT ZARDARI
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) In a May 25 meeting with Codel Leahy, President
Zardari described his recent trilateral meeting in Iran as
being focused on controlling drug trafficking and expressed
support for the Obama administration's outreach to Iran.
Zardari asserted that he had political consensus for current
Pakistani military operations in the Northwest Frontier
Province, enthusiastically looked forward to improved
relations with New Delhi in the wake of India's parliamentary
elections, and welcomed U.S.-Pakistan-Afghanistan
intelligence sharing to control cross-border militant
movements. Zardari repeated his request for "drone
technology so my forces can take out the militants." End
Summary.
2. (C) Senators Patrick Leahy, Sheldon Whitehouse and Mark
Warner, accompanied by Ambassador, met May 25 with President
Asif Zardari. Also attending were: Daniel Ginsberg, Defense
Aide for Senator Leahy, John Tracy, Staff Assistant for
Senator Leahy, Mark Brunner, Legislative Assistant for
Senator Warner, General Secretary for the Presidency Salman
Farouqui, Attorney General Latif Khosa, Senator Syeda Sughra
Imam, Presidential Spokesman Faratullah Babar, Interior
Secretary Kamal Shah, MFA Additional Secretary for the
Americas Attiyah Mahmood, and Polcouns (notetaker).
Iran
----
3. (C) Senator Leahy opened the meeting by asking about
President Zardari's recent trip to Iran to attend a
trilateral meeting with President Karzai. Zardari said the
main focus was forging a combined effort to counter drug
trafficking, a business worth $5 million a day even before
drugs hit the streets of Central Asia or Europe. This was,
he said, more than my police and Army budget put together.
The militants are paying $60 per day to fight us in Swat and
much of the funding comes from the drug trade. Zardari said
there also as a discussion about Iran's offer to provide oil,
gas and electricity to Pakistan. Under the Bush
administration, it was not "PC" to discuss these things, but
Pakistan desperately needs energy resources and no one
else--especially the Saudis--are offering to help. Still,
explained Zardari, "I need you more than anyone else, so I
will take my cue from you. Perhaps now it will be possible
to work with Iran on energy issues." (Note: The press
reported May 25 that Zardari and Iranian President
Ahmadinejad signed a declaration to support a gas pipeline
agreement between the Iranian and Pakistani Oil Ministries.)
4. (C) Senator Whitehouse asked if Iran's nuclear weapons
program had been discussed; Zardari said no, "it didn't come
up and I did encourage the discussion moving in that
direction. Zardari opined that the Obama Administration's
policy of engagement with Iran was a good one. Iran
controlled the Straits of Hormuz and could create many
problems for the West; dialogue was a better option than
threats. He noted that a regional approach, including
efforts to work with Turkey, India and Afghanistan, offered
the best chance of progress with Iran on nuclear issues.
Anti-Militant Operations
------------------------
5. (C) Senator Leahy noted that the delegation had just
visited Iraq and would next visit Afghanistan where the U.S.
was increasing troop levels and asked how this affected
Pakistan. Zardari said he hoped the Senator would some day
visit the border area, because 70 percent of the problem in
controlling militancy could be explained by the rugged nature
of the terrain; it was more difficult for Pakistan to control
this border than it was for the U.S. to control its border
with Mexico. He was pleased with the progress of military
operations, but this was not just a positive development for
the Army. The government had taken political ownership of
the fight and now had consensus support from the parliament
and popular support.
6. (C) The Pakistani Army was composed primarily of
Punjabis, and historically Punjabi officers took the brunt of
casualties in war, said Zardari. That was why it was so
important that Pakistan Muslim League-N opposition leader
ISLAMABAD 00001123 002 OF 002
Nawaz Sharif supported the current operation. Within
meetings like the recent All Parties Conference on the
security situation, the political parties were on board with
the government, explained Zardari. Outside the meeting,
these parties might say other things to the media to appease
their constituencies. Zardari noted that he had signed the
Swat Nizam-e-Adl regulation only after receiving
parliamentary support. There were small parties like
Jamaat-e-Islami that opposed military action but they were in
the minority.
7. (C) The other half of the equation, said Zardari, was
caring for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who now
were "in pain" suffering from the hot weather and shortages
of food and water. The real challenge, however, will be
rebuilding areas after the conflict ends. Senator Leahy
responded that this would take a long time; Zardari agreed
but said "this is war." Senator Whitehouse asked for an
estimate of what it would cost to rebuild; Zardari estimated
$3-4 billion and commented that this money must be spent
transparently.
India
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8. (C) Senator Warner asked if the election results in India
would pave the way for improved Indo-Pakistan relations.
Zardari emphatically said yes, and he had been the first to
congratulate PM Singh after his victory. "I want the Indian
market for Pakistan," said Zardari. Further, "today's war
between us involves non-state actors; tomorrow's war will be
about water in the Indus River system." Noting the
Indian-Russian relations helps Pakistan, Zardari said he
welcomed better U.S. relations with India after the collapse
of the Soviet Union. "India and Pakistan can do great things
together with U.S. help," asserted Zardari.
Afghanistan/Intelligence Sharing
--------------------------------
9. (C) In response to Senator Leahy, Zardari said the recent
trilateral meetings in Washington with President Karzai had
been useful. He and Karzai had a much better relationship
than former President Musharraf had had with Karzai. Senator
Whitehouse noted the importance of intelligence sharing to
root out militants in the Pak-Afghan border area and asked
Zardari if he would support deployment of troops along the
border to prevent cross-border movement of militants.
Zardari responded that Pakistan supported establishment of
tripartite Border Coordination Centers, had built multiple
border posts and had deployed 125,000 troops in the area.
Still, these forces were insufficient to stop militant
movements, cautioned Zardari.
10. (C) Zardari welcomed the acquisition of modern
technology and said "give me the drones so my forces can take
out the militants." That way, "we cannot be criticized by
the media or anyone else for actions our Army takes to
protect our sovereignty." Referring to a recent drone strike
in the tribal area that killed 60 militants, Zardari reported
that his military aide believed a Pakistani operation to take
out this site would have resulted in the deaths of over 60
Pakistani soldiers. Zardari offered to give the delegation a
Pakistani Air Force briefing on how it was using F-16s to
attack caves where the taliban cached their weapons.
11. (U) Codel Leahy approved this message.
PATTERSON