WikiLeaks: Pakistan’s nightmare continues

WASHINGTON: Nightmare continued to hound political leadership and key players of the government as WikiLeaks expose more details of their secret meetings with US high ups

The US stands little chance of convincing Pakistan to sever links with militants fighting in Afghanistan using its current strategy, Washington's envoy in Islamabad warned last fall in one of dozens of memos leaked that expose America's troubled alliance with the nuclear-armed state.

Former Ambassador Anne Patterson's comments about trying to get Pakistan to abandon the Afghan Taliban may be the most significant since US officials have said ending support for the group, which has bases on Pakistan's territory close to Afghanistan, is key to success in Afghanistan.

Instead of lavishing the country with increased aid to win Pakistan's cooperation, the US must focus on ways of reducing tension between Islamabad and its archenemy, India, that drives support for militants, said Patterson.

On May 26 in Islamabad, US Representatives Schiff and Schwartz held a meeting with PPP leader Zardari and his foreign policy team. Zardari thanked the USG for its support of credible parliamentary elections, which brought his party to power: "We are here because of you."

Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan after getting 'clearance' from the US. President Asif Ali Zardari told this to the then US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson after the assassination of BB, US embassy cables revealed.

According to the US embassy cables, Zardari held meeting with Patterson on 25th January 2008 in which he opened his remarks by saying that the US is "our safety blanket" and recounted how Benazir had returned despite the threats against her because of support and "clearance" from the US.

Another secret US embassy cable "classified by Anne Patterson" reveals that the US said it was willing to work with Nawaz Sharif if he won the elections, but that Zardari was its "best ally in Pakistan right now."

The cable said that US interests are best served by preventing another cycle of military rule and that former president Pervez Musharraf had full confidence in JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman which revealed during his meeting with the US envoy Anne W. Patterson on 21/9/20007.

Musharraf told the US ambassador that Fazl could also help in holding talks with militants in North and South Waziristan and Bajaur.

The Bush administration remained silent amid rumours that Pakistan was about to release disgraced nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest, a top US official urged Washington to 'strongly oppose' the move.

Army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani told a top American diplomat that his establishment wanted resumption of back channel talks with India, but President Asif Ali Zardari was against it.

Gen. Kayani told this to Anne Patterson during a two-hour long meeting in October 2009.

"Kayani said that Ambassador should talk to Zardari about restarting the back-channel where it 'left off'. He was not sure that Zardari was quite willing to wade into these political waters yet," the cable reads. "Kayani and Pasha both said that they wanted this channel to succeed, and Kayani expressed his confidence in Riaz Khan's integrity and intelligence," the cable said.

"Kayani said the military was going to move into Waziristan in two-four weeks, although President Zardari had wanted him to delay.

Zardari sought a pledge from the United Arab Emirates to allow his family long-term refuge - as they did for his late wife - if he died or was killed.

The memo said the UAE's Foreign Minister, Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, told high-ranking US officials in January about Zardari's request.

The leaked cable said Sheik Abdullah stressed "the sensitivity of the information".

It's not known whether the appeal was granted by the UAE's president, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Emirates officials were not available Thursday to comment on the report because of a national holiday.

Separate US diplomatic memos released on WikiLeaks portray Zardari, who took power in 2008, as worried about plots against his life by political rivals.

Cables released by WikiLeaks state that Indian officials may not say it publicly, but privately they admit that Pakistan has made progress with regard to the Mumbai attacks probe.

WikiLeaks cable related to the investigation, dates back to scarcely three months after 26/11.

The positive assessment of Pakistan's contribution to the probe was made by Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon to US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke in a diplomatic cable created in February 2009. - Agencies