VZCZCXRO1017
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #2203 1751250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231250Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7487
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8765
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8152
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3428
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9924
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5668
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4437
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002203 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL MARR ECON
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SETS SYMBOLIC PRECEDENT WITH DEFENSE 
BUDGET DEBATE 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On June 17, Pakistan's parliament debated 
the defense budget for the first time in the nation's 
history.  Although details were sparse and debate limited, 
this marked a symbolic move toward greater civilian oversight 
of the armed forces.  Chief of Army Staff General Kayani 
supported providing additional information, but the budget 
still did not include figures for specific weapons 
procurement, intelligence, or strategic programs.  Most 
political and media commentators lauded the effort while 
supporting continued secrecy regarding details.  Embassy 
continues to try to provide parliamentarians with a briefing 
on U.S. defense programs, but they remain wary of crossing 
the military.   For now, we are providing the Speaker of the 
National Assembly with a written brief on our programs. 
Separately, USAID is implementing a parliamentary 
strengthening program to enhance the capacity of parliament 
to analyze budgets and draft legislation.   End summary. 
 
Minor Steps toward More Civilian Control 
 
¶2. (SBU) Senate leader Raza Rabbani (Pakistan People's Party) 
tabled the defense budget for debate in the Senate on June 
17, breaking the tradition of submitting the defense budget 
as a single line item without debate.  The debate was limited 
to two hours with the defense budget broken down into seven 
areas: employee-related expenses, operating expenses, travel 
and transportation, general, physical assets, other stores 
and stocks, and civil works.  Notably, the budget did not 
include figures for specific weapons procurement, the 
nuclear/missile strategic programs, or intelligence 
operations.  Rabbani saw the precedent-setting debate as a 
way to make all other institutions accountable to Parliament. 
 The National Assembly approved the budget on June 21. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Rabbani noted the debate fulfilled part of the 
coalition parties' Charter of Democracy, which stipulated the 
budget would be brought to Parliament. Parliamentarians aired 
views ranging from allegations the budget included false 
figures to praise for the military.  Senator Khalid Soomro 
(Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-F) called for defense cuts to penalize 
the military for interfering in politics and conducting 
operations in the FATA. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Independent defense analyst and former Secretary of 
Defense for Production (ret) Lt General Talat Masood told 
Embassy sources the military sees the budget debate as 
symbolic rather than substantive. The armed forces are more 
likely to tolerate increasing civilian control if that 
control is exercised in moderation, said Masood, especially 
at the beginning of such reforms.   Most media commended the 
parliament for this initial effort while supporting 
continuing secrecy regarding the details. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Comment:   Significant progress toward civilian 
oversight likely will take years, if it ever happens, but 
this is a good symbolic first step.  The Embassy has tried to 
brief parliamentarians on U.S. military aid to Pakistan, but 
they remain wary of crossing the military establishment.  For 
now, we are providing the Speaker of the National Assembly 
with a written brief on our programs.  Separately, USAID is 
implementing a parliamentary strengthening program to enhance 
the limited capacity of parliament to analyze budgets and 
draft legislation. 
PATTERSON