Asif Ali Zardari sought US deal: WikiLeaks

Sep 13, 2011 - Shafqat Ali |

Islamabad

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Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had sought a deal with the United States in 2010 to strengthen his political position, a secret cable released by WikiLeaks said.

Zardari, the cable said, had told US senator John Kerry that he needed a “deal with the Unites States” to strengthen his political position in order to show the people of Pakistan that he had something to offer them.

In a diplomatic cable sent by then US ambassador Anne W. Patterson on February 23, 2010, about a meeting held between Zardari and Kerry, the latter said India was “very open” to constructive talks with Pakistan and urged Pakistan to reach an agreement with India on counter-terrorism.

“Zardari said with US support, talks could move forward. He said he doubted broad talks with the Taliban were possible, specific regional efforts might succeed. Pakistan was fighting militants on a ‘shoe-string’ budget, but Zardari said that he was committed to finding ways to undermine the pull towards militancy in Pakistani society. Kerry said the GOP needed to rebuild conflict-affected areas to cement military gains against the insurgency”, said the cable.

Encouraging an Indo-Pak agreement, Kerry opened the February 16 meeting with Mr Zardari by referring to his recent talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani premier Gilani. Kerry said Mr Singh was “very open” to negotiation with Pakistan.

‘Pervez wanted Afghan ties intact’

Even as he accepted key US demands after 9/11 when Washington mulled military action against the Taliban regime, then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf underlined Islamabad’s aim to have a “friendly government” in Afghanistan, say declassified documents.

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