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DE RUEHIL #2003/01 1521106
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 8010
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3325
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RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9807
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5547
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4288
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR ECON PK
SUBJECT: CODEL FEINGOLD MEETS WITH PML-N PARLIAMENTARY LEADER NISAR 
ALI KHAN 
 
Classified by Ambassador Anne Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 26 meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz 
(PML-N) parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Senator Russ 
Feingold discussed Pakistan's current political situation and efforts 
to combat extremism.  The PML-N, Nisar insisted, considers the U.S. 
to be a friend but took issue with the perception that the PML-N 
supported militants, adding that "we are not the right hand of Mullah 
Omar."  The PML-N wants a peaceful and stable Pakistan that does not 
threaten other countries, but asked the U.S. to allow Pakistan to 
"give peace a chance" in negotiations with tribal groups.  Pledging 
that the PML-N will maintain support of the current Pakistan Peoples 
Party (PPP) government, Nisar criticized Musharraf for using the 
specter of terrorism to maintain U.S. support for his Presidency. 
Referring to "perception being stronger than reality" in Pakistan, 
Nisar claimed that the people of Pakistan see the U.S. as an 
impediment to the restoration of the judiciary.  The U.S. is 
perceived as always backing Musharraf and this hurts the image of the 
U.S.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Senator Russ Feingold and the Ambassador met May 26 with 
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) 
parliamentary leader and party insider.  Senator Feingold began by 
emphasizing the importance the U.S. places on its relationship with 
Pakistan, adding that the two countries have a historic opportunity 
develop a bilateral relationship based on mutual concerns.  Declaring 
the U.S. as a "long time friend," Nisar began a reiteration of his 
defense of the PML-N and its pro-American positions.  Nisar claimed 
the PML-N supported the U.S. "when it was not fashionable" during the 
Cold War and "took it on the chin" after supporting the U.S.-led 
coalition during the first Gulf War.   The PML-N, he insisted, feels 
the U.S. is a friend and that we share common interests.  Democratic 
government, he continued, allows tough choices to be made, including 
supporting the U.S. on controversial issues. 
 
¶3. (C) Turing to counterterrorism cooperation, Senator Feingold 
thanked Pakistan for standing by the U.S. after 9/11 and for the 
Government of Pakistan's (GOP) continuing support for the War on 
Terror.  Describing terrorism as Pakistan's problem, Nisar 
articulated the PML-N goal of a peaceful and stable Pakistan that 
does not threaten other countries, including the U.S.  Nisar pledged 
to work with the U.S. on the issue, discussing differences in an open 
forum but "never behind your back." 
 
¶4. (C) Nisar took issue with the perception that the PML-N supported 
militants, adding that "we are not the right hand of Mullah Omar." 
Recent election results in which the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal 
(MMA) party received only two percent of the national vote is an 
indication that the Pakistani people do not support extremism. 
Asking the U.S. to allow Pakistan to "give peace a chance," Nisar 
believes that the military has been unable to tackle rising militancy 
in Pakistan.  Negotiations with tribal leaders and Taliban groups 
ready to enter the political mainstream allow the GOP to isolate the 
real militants, he continued.  Nisar pledged to use the military to 
go after those groups that "continue to use Pakistan as a launching 
pad" if peace negotiations fail. 
 
¶5. (C) On the domestic political front, Nisar stated while the 
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N have different views on 
policy, both parties have eight years of joint struggle against 
President Musharraf.  "The people want this coalition to last," he 
continued, pledging that the PML-N will maintain support of the 
PPP-led government.  Nisar claimed that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari 
was insistent on the PML-N joining the Federal Cabinet, but the 
PML-N's stronger position on the restoration of the judiciary made 
that difficult.  Because the pre-November 2 judiciary was not 
restored within thirty days of the new government, the PML-N had a 
"moral obligation to walk away." 
 
¶6. (C) Senator Feingold asked Nisar what steps the U.S. should take 
concerning the restoration of the judges.  Referring to "perception 
being stronger than reality" in Pakistan, Nisar claimed that the 
people of Pakistan see the U.S. as an impediment to the restoration 
of the judges.  Differing messages from the Bush Administration and 
members of Congress are partly to blame for that, he suggested.  The 
U.S. is perceived as always backing Musharraf and this hurts the 
image of the U.S. 
 
¶7. (C) Nisar thanked the U.S. for its assistance to Pakistan over the 
years but added that despite an "unbelievable U.S. investment" in 
Pakistan, public perception of the U.S. remains low and terrorism has 
 
ISLAMABAD 00002003  002 OF 002 
 
 
increased.  Nisar accused Musharraf of using the specter of terrorism 
to maintain U.S. support for his Presidency.  The MMA is a "facade to 
frighten the West," he declared.  Nisar alleged that the 2002 
parliamentary election, in which the MMA secured 53 National Assembly 
seats, was engineered by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) 
agency at Musharraf's request.  Also blaming India-Pakistan tensions 
on Musharraf, Nisar remarked that Kashmiri extremists groups are so 
interlinked with the ISI that it is hard to determine "where the role 
of the militant ends and the ISI begins." 
 
¶8. (C) Continuing on India-Pakistan relations, Nisar sees Nawaz 
Sharif and the PML-N as the architects of detente with India.  Peace 
with India is a PML-N priority, he declared, proposing that trade be 
expanded and visa restrictions reduced.  While progress has been 
made, India refuses "to give anything in return."  India needs to 
take additional confidence building steps with Pakistan, Nisar 
suggested, adding that "when we release one their spies, they send us 
a coffin."  Senator Feingold remarked that he would visit India after 
Pakistan and looked forwarded to discussing India-Pakistan relations 
in New Delhi. 
 
¶9. (U) CODEL Feingold did not clear this cable. 
 
PATTERSON