VZCZCXRO4084
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3935 3590106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240106Z DEC 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 9605
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4235
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 9322
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0965
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1158
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1086
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0817
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 6550
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 5407
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 4704
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003935 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/23/2018 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
 
SUBJECT:  JAMAAT-I-ISLAMI CONDUCTS PEACEFUL PROTEST IN PESHAWAR 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  One of the largest Pakistani religious parties, 
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), led by its chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad, staged a 
large demonstration in Peshawar to demand that Pakistan stop 
permitting NATO supplies to flow through the area into Afghanistan. 
Between 6,000-10,000 protestors participated in the peaceful 
demonstration, with marchers "blocking" supply routes by clogging the 
roads.  The police were deployed in large numbers; there were no 
reports of violence, injuries, property damage or arrests.  The 
critical Peshawar-Torkham supply route remained open after the 
five-hour demonstration.    End summary. 
 
JI Protest Against Pakistan's Support of U.S. Was Peaceful 
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¶2. (U) One of Pakistan's largest religious political parties, 
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), staged a large street demonstration in 
Peshawar, from 1200 to 1700 local time, on December 18, to demand 
that Pakistan cut off NATO supplies heading into Afghanistan and to 
express disapproval of Pakistani military operations in the Northwest 
Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas 
(FATA).  The gathering, led by JI central chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad, 
started with a group of about 500 organizers and protestors near the 
Frontier Corps' Bala Hisar Fort, several miles from the U.S. 
Consulate, on Peshawar's main Ring Road.  JI leaders offered speeches 
and prayers.  As the afternoon progressed, the crowd grew to at least 
6,000, with some press reports claiming the crowd grew to as many as 
10,000.  Many marchers held JI flags, banners, and signs and chanted 
slogans opposing NATO supply transport through the area and 
Pakistan's "pro-US" policies.  JI's NWFP President Sirajul Haq stated 
that the recent attacks on freight terminals in Peshawar were a 
reaction against Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas. 
 
Supply Route Through Khyber Remains Open 
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¶3. (SBU) Marchers clogged roads used by the supply convoys, and party 
workers also hoisted black flags on the routes.  The JI march came 
just days after the NWFP cabinet vowed to provide full protection to 
NATO supply convoys passing through the province.  The NWFP Police 
deployed large contingents of security in anticipation of the JI 
rally, and the rainy and cold weather may also have dampened the 
numbers.  There were no reports of violence, injuries, property 
damage or arrests.  The rally did not attempt to approach the U.S. 
Consulate or the residential housing area where Americans live.  The 
critical supply route through Peshawar and the Khyber Pass remained 
open after JI's demonstration. 
 
The JI Rally Was Strident, But Peaceful 
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¶4. (SBU) Marchers chanted slogans such as "Down with America," and 
"Jihad is the only solution for America," but the protest was 
peaceful.  Although many marchers brought American flags to burn in 
protest, JI's leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, prohibited the 
demonstrators from burning them, stating that JI was not against a 
country or its people, but against the policies of the American 
government.  JI's December 18 march in Peshawar was the latest in a 
series of messages appealing to both Pakistani and Pashtun 
nationalism.  Qazi often accuses Pakistan of being a "U.S. slave," 
and says its rulers stand on the "American side against Muslims in 
the war of civilizations."  JI leaders criticized Pakistan's 
government for attacking its "brothers" in the tribal areas and 
called the Awami National Party (ANP) anti-Pashtun, alleging a 
history of supporting Hindus and the Indian government at the time of 
partition. 
 
PATTERSON