VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #3208 0551144
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241144Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0816
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0119

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2015 
TAGS: IZ KDEM KPAO PGOV PK PREL PTER PAS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF CONDEMNS AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE 
BOMBING 
 
REF: STATE 28802 
 
Classified By: DCM Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4  (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  On February 23, 2006, per reftel instruction, 
PolCounselor contacted MFA Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam and MFA 
Americas Director General Sohail Mehmood to urge the 
Government of Pakistan (GOP) to issue a statement condemning 
the bombing of the al-Askariya Shrine.  He also shared with 
the MFA the text of President Bush's statement and the joint 
statement by Ambassador Khalilizad and General Casey. 
 
¶2.  (U)  On February 24, 2006, the MFA issues a press release 
with the text of a letter from President Musharraf to 
President Talabani condemning the bombing (full text of press 
release follows). 
 
(Begin text.) 
 
P.R. No. 74/2006 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(Office of the Spokesperson) 
 
PRESS RELEASE 
 
The President has sent the following message to the President 
of the Republic of Iraq on the bombing of the Holy Shrine of 
Imam Ali al-Hadi, and the resulting violence in the country. 
 
QUOTE 
 
Message from the President 
 
Excellency, 
 
On behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan, I convey 
our deep shock and condemnation of the bombing of the Holy 
Shrine of Imam Ali al-Hadi resulting in its severe damage. 
 
We are gravely concerned at the ensuing communal strife in 
which scores of mosques have been attacked, and which has 
claimed over one hundred lives. We sincerely hope that the 
spiralling tension and hostility is soon brought under 
control and calm is restored. 
 
I avail of this opportunity to convey our prayers for the 
peace and prosperity of the brotherly people of Iraq. 
 
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest 
consideration. 
 
(General Pervez Musharraf) 
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 
 
H.E. Jalal Talabani 
President of the Republic of Iraq 
 
UNQUOTE 
 
Islamabad 
February 24, 2006 
 
(End text.) 
CROCKER