Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Pakistan)
Security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme
Grave fears have existed in the U.S. and the U.K. over the security of
In a February 2009 cable from Islamabad, Patterson said "Our major concern is not having an Islamic militant steal an entire weapon but rather the chance someone working in [Pakistani government] facilities could gradually smuggle enough material out to eventually make a weapon." Seven months later, worry was also expressed by
Pakistan-Arab relations
In July 2009,
Saudi King Abdullah called President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan the greatest obstacle to the country's progress. "When the head is rotten", he said, "it affects the whole body".[3][5]
Government stability
The cables reveal that U.S. Vice President Biden told British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in March 2009 that Mr. Zardari had told him he feared an army coup and that the "ISI director and Kayani will take me out".[6]
In a conversation with French
In February 2010, a Turkish expert on South Asian Affairs, Engin Soysal, told U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns that the
The
Fearing attempts on his life, Zardari told ambassador Anne W. Patterson that in the event he were to be assassinated, he had instructed his son
Delayed Pakistan-Iran rail link
A new rail link between Pakistan and Iran would be delayed for the time being, owing to poor conditions, low freight-carrying capacity and unrest from
Pakistan-Israeli relations
According to the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel was concerned for the well-being of former president Pervez Musharraf and wanted him to stay in power in 2007. The director of Mossad, Meir Dagan, remarked: "...he is facing a serious problem with the militants. Pakistan's nuclear capability could end up in the hands of an Islamic regime".[11]
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak described Pakistan as his "private nightmare". He said that a potential Islamic extremist threat in Pakistan could wake up the world "with everything changed". Barak also dismissed the idea of using force on Iran as backfiring upon moderate Muslims in Pakistan, saying that while the two countries were interconnected, such a causal chain could not be established.[11]
According to a document from October 2009, head of Pakistan's intelligence agency Ahmad Shuja Pasha provided intelligence on potential terrorist attacks in India to Israel. According to the cable, "He had been in direct touch with the Israelis on possible threats against Israeli targets in India".[12]
Pakistan's allegations of India funding terrorism in Pakistan
Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alisherzai blamed India for helping to train and fund extremist groups fighting against the Government of Pakistan. He said that India also helped support the Taliban in Pakistan, explaining "They (India) will never let a chance to harm Pakistan go." Alisherzai summed up his feelings about India by saying, "We are not expecting anything good from them."[13]
Election
In November 2007,
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
Kayani is described in American interactions as "direct, frank, and thoughtful" and has "fond memories" of time spent on a military training course in the U.S. He also "smokes heavily and can be difficult to understand as he tends to mumble". ISI chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha was said to be "usually more emotional" than Kayani.[14]
Prime Minister Gillani
In February 2009, Zardari's spokesperson
United States combat involvement in Pakistan
Drone attacks
In 2008, Pakistani Prime Minister
Special forces
There are revelations that small teams of elite U.S. special forces may have been dispatched in the tribal belt to help coordinate the Pakistani military's operations. One record indicates that up to 16 U.S. soldiers had been deployed to help Pakistani troops in 2009. Their role is primarily training-oriented and to provide "intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance" support – ISR in military jargon – "general operational advice" and set up a live satellite feed from presumably CIA-operated American drones flying overhead.[15][16]
Afghanistan-Pakistan affairs
Jasmine Zerinini, a French specialist on Afghanistan-Pakistan affairs, said that
References
- ^ Leigh, David (28 November 2010). "US Embassy Cables Leak Sparks Global Diplomacy Crisis". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ (registration required) Cables Obtained by WikiLeaks Shine Light Into Secret Diplomatic Channels - Page 1; The New York Times. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Allbritton, Chris (29 November 2010). "Pakistan Defends Nuclear Stance Revealed by WikiLeaks". Reuters. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
- ^ Leigh, David (30 November 2010). "WikiLeaks cables expose Pakistan nuclear fears". The Guardian.
- AAJ TV. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
- ^ (registration required) Perlez, Jane; Sanger, David E.; Schmitt, Eric (30 November 2010). "Nuclear Fuel Memos Expose Wary Dance with Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ Staff writer (1 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Zardari's Staying Power Surprises Gates". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "Cable Viewer". wikileaks.dd19.de. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Staff writer (1 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Zardari and the 'Backup Plan'". Agence France-Presse (via The Express Tribune). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated 25 January 2010 (1 December 2010). "US Embassy Cables: Zardari Asks UAE To Take in Family in Event of Death". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Staff writer (29 November 2010). "WikiLeaks: Israel Wanted Musharraf To Stay in Power". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
- ^ Katz, Yaakov (7 October 2009). "WikiLeaks: Pakistan Passed Terror Intel to Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
- ^ "State Department cables: Saudis distrust Pakistan's Shia president Zardari". The Guardian. London. 1 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d Walsh, Declan (30 November 2010). "Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari 'Prepared for Assassination' – WikiLeaks Cables Profiling Husband of Late Benazir Bhutto Say He Has Named His Successor Should He Also Be Killed". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ a b Staff writer (1 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Gilani Open to Drone Strikes on 'Right People'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (30 November 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: US Special Forces Working Inside Pakistan – US Embassy Cables Reveal Elite American Troops Secretly Embedded with Pakistan Military To Hunt Down Militants". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Staff writer (30 November 2010). "WikiLeaks: Kayani Is No Musharraf". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 December 2010.