Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
Global
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Browse by tag
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05ISLAMABAD15959, PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: KASHMIRI GOVERNMENT VIEWED AS
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
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05ISLAMABAD15959 | 2005-10-24 12:57 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Islamabad |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 015959
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015
TAGS: AEMR ASEC EAID MASS PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: KASHMIRI GOVERNMENT VIEWED AS
INEFFECTIVE IN EARTHQUAKE CRISIS
Classified By: Derived from DSCG 05-01, b and d
¶1. (C) Summary: The autonomous Government of Azad Jammu
Kashmir (GAJK) has played virtually no role in earthquake
relief. Its bureaucracy was devastated along with the
capital of Muzzafarabad, while its political leadership (most
of which was in Islamabad at the time of the earthquake) has
been roundly criticized for a non-existent performance.
Senior Kashmiri politicians are involved in individual relief
activities and well-publicized tours of disaster areas, but
have not wanted to be linked with GOP-relief efforts that
many Kashmiris view as inadequate. Recognizing that their
political fortunes are inextricably linked to continued GOP
support, most Kashmiri politicians have been silent on GOP
relief efforts. Several prominent Kashmiris have privately
cautioned against any involvement by the GAJK or its
bureaucrats in reconstruction efforts, citing widespread
corruption in previous development projects. Instead, they
believe that coordination should be done through local
community councils and legitimate Kashmiri politicians (read
Muslim Conference (MC) and All Parties Huriyat Conference
(APHC)). End Summary.
¶2. (C) To date, the GAJK has played a minimal role in relief
efforts. Its bureaucracy, mostly based in Muzzafarabad, was
decimated by the earthquake, leaving many employees dead,
injured, mourning family members, or homeless. Although
there were some stories of amazing efforts on the part of
individual AJK civil servants, government generally was
absent in the quake's immediate aftermath. When authority
was reestablished, it was largely by the military, which
remains in effective control in the affected areas with some
support from federal civil servants imported from other parts
of the country. Many Kashmiri civil society activists
actually welcomed the GAJK bureaucracy's absence from relief
efforts, noting its tendencies towards corruption and inept
management.
¶3. (C) The political leadership of the GAJK was largely
outside of Muzzafarabad at the time of the earthquake.
(Note: Most senior Kashmiri politicians divide their time
between Muzzafarabad and Islamabad, spending the majority in
the federal capital. End Note). Many, like the AJK Prime
Minister, returned to Muzzafarabad within 48-hours of the
earthquake, generally with television crews and journalists
in tow. While all have spent a great deal of time touring
the affected areas and raising funds, none have taken an
active role in the coordination of relief or long-term
planning for reconstruction. Even erstwhile political allies
have criticized the AJK Prime Minister and his cabinet for
being largely absent from disaster management activities and
allowing the federal bureaucracy to take the lead. Following
long-standing practice, the Federal Relief Commission has
coordinated central government efforts with minimal GAJK
involvement.
¶4. (C) Kashmiri politicians have for the most part chosen to
absent themselves from formal GOP relief efforts. Instead,
they and their respective political parties have been
independently raising and distributing funds and donations to
earthquake victims. Those that we have spoken with since the
disaster, largely from the MC and the APHC, claim privately
that many Kashmiris remain resentful of what they view as
inadequate central government assistance. Even so, with the
exception of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (a
pro-independence party with few ties to the GOP), Kashmiri
leaders have been largely silent on GOP-relief efforts.
Comment: This likely reflects the historical reality that
politicians in AJK are largely dependent on the GOP for their
political viability. End Comment.
¶5. (C) All interlocutors agree that the Kashmiri people must
be actively involved in reconstruction. There is a
high-level of skepticism, however, that the GAJK is suited to
administer, or even play an active role, in such efforts.
The GAJK is widely-viewed as corrupt, incompetent, and
illegitimate. One long-time civil society activist claimed
that nearly 65 percent of development projects previously
launched by the GAJK were never carried out, despite funds
being spent. Others report that senior GAJK officials and
their family members, including the Prime Minister, have
already established new "construction companies" in the hope
of obtaining a portion of reconstruction funds. The JKLF is
advocating that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (the parent organization of
designated foreign terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyaba)
be taken seriously as a reconstruction partner. Senior APHC
and MC figures have publicly and privately suggested that
reconstruction is best coordinated through local community
councils (appointed advisory bodies established throughout
the area that substitute for local elected government) and
that "legitimate" Kashmiri parties (i.e. MC and APHC) should
be invited to participate in federal reconstruction bodies.
¶6. (C) Comment: The earthquake has swept away even the
nominal fiction of an autonomous GAJK. The paralysis of both
its bureaucracy and political leadership during this crisis
has made federal intervention essential. As focus shifts
from immediate relief to reconstruction, it will become
increasingly important for Kashmiris to be involved in
planning and execution. While coordination through the GAJK
would be the simplest route logistically, post believes that
its poor development track record disqualifies the GAJK as a
credible implementing partner. The GOP, will need to find
ways to involve local communities, perhaps through community
councils and political parties, directly in reconstruction,
as a corollary to more robust discussions with the GAJK
leadership. End Comment.
CROCKER