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RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5138

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000072 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/9/2019 
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PUNJAB GOVERNOR TASEER TELLS CODEL KYL THAT EXTREMISM IS 
LIMITED TO SMALL MINORITY 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Matthew D. Lowe, Acting Principal Officer, 
Consulate Lahore, U.S. Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1. Summary  (C) Punjab Governor Salman Taseer told a 
congressional delegation led by Senator Jon Kyl that only a 
small minority in Pakistan supports extremism.  He highlighted 
assistance to Pakistan's education system as the best way to 
counter terrorist recruitment.  Taseer also envisioned Pakistan 
as a moderate, progressive role model to other Muslim countries. 
 Senator Kyl stressed that the U.S. will remain engaged in 
Pakistan, and that President Obama's strategy has earned 
bipartisan support.  End Summary. 
 
- - - 
Security in Punjab Worrisome 
- - - 
 
¶2. (C) In an April 8 meeting with Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, 
Senator Jon Kyl expressed concern over the security situation in 
Pakistan, particularly in Punjab in light of recent attack on 
the Manawan Training Center. Kyl commended Taseer for his 
willingness to speak against extremism and support for the 
federal government's initiative to create a counter-terrorism 
security force. Governor Taseer insisted that the majority in 
Punjab, as well as Pakistan, do not support extremist elements, 
as shown by the overwhelming local support for the police after 
the attack at the Manawan training center. However, he 
acknowledged, "only 5 or 6 madmen can disrupt a population." The 
counter-terrorism security force, he explained, would recruit 
people from the border regions as they can speak Pashto and can 
be used to fight extremists throughout the country. 
 
¶3. (C) Governor Taseer related that, in addition to the impact 
on safety, terrorist incidents also result in a loss of foreign 
investment. The proposed Kerry-Lugar legislation would equal 
less than the cost that terrorism has had on Pakistani 
businesses, he surmised. Representative Jane Harman observed 
that this lack of investment may not be entirely the result of 
the security situation but might also be the result of the 
global economic downturn. 
 
- - - 
Sri Lankan Attack Culprits Unidentified 
- - - 
 
¶4. (C) Representative Harman inquired if the police have 
identified the perpetrators of the attack on the Sri Lankan 
Cricket team in Lahore. Taseer responded the investigation 
remains open, but he blamed "sub-educated," religious extremists 
that want to embarrass the country on the world stage. "They are 
filled with animalistic hysteria that no one understands," 
Taseer lamented.  Essentially, he said, a terrorist organization 
bought five or six "hit men" for USD 250,000.  He pointed out 
that the attackers had rocket-propelled grenade launchers, but 
did not know how to fire them, which implied poor training. 
"They were shooting as if on a Sunday picnic," he recounted. 
 
- - - 
Education Key to Fighting Terrorism 
- - - 
 
¶5. (C) Senator Kyl observed that Saudi-funded madrassas have 
served to recruit new terrorists and asked Governor Taseer if he 
viewed these groups as a serious threat. In a recent 
conversation with Ambassador Holbrooke, Taseer stated, he had 
stressed that education is the "first soft target" in the fight 
against extremists. Taseer detailed that Pakistan has only two 
options for those who want an education: "elite" private 
institutions or failed state-run schools. As a result, he 
continued, madrassas become the only alternative available to 
parents who care about education but too poor for private 
school.  Moreover, madrassas, most of which espouse moderate 
philosophies, provide room, board and quality religious 
education for students, he noted.  He recommended that the U.S. 
invest in education in Pakistan on all levels. "Any money that 
seeps in creates a good impact," he suggested. 
 
- - - 
Pakistan's Democracy Could Be "Role Model" for Muslim World 
- - - 
 
¶6. (C) Senator Kyl asked Governor Taseer what message he would 
like to send to the Senate and the people of the United States. 
Taseer reiterated that Pakistan has a functioning, "robust, 
raucous," democratically elected government without military 
 
LAHORE 00000072  002 OF 002 
 
 
interference. Representative Chris Carney questioned whether the 
army will permanently remain out of politics. Taseer stated that 
a "rough and tumble democracy" is better than having military 
involved. In addition to Turkey, he proposed, Pakistan could 
serve as an example of a democratic Muslim country and a "role 
model" for the Muslim World. He asked the U.S. to support 
democracy, education and remove trade barriers. 
 
- - - 
Media Perception of Pakistan in U.S. 
- - - 
 
¶7. (C) Representative John Kline said that the U.S. media 
conveys the impression that most Pakistanis support the 
militants and asked Taseer how Pakistan can improve its global 
image. Taseer underlined that "99 percent of Pakistan" stands 
against extremism. Even in Swat, he explained, the population 
dislikes the mullahs intensely, "but what can they do against a 
couple hundred people with guns?"  Taseer added that although 
the missile strikes cause very little collateral damage, 
Pakistanis believe that they cause hundreds of civilian 
casualties, which leads to resentment and a belief that the U.S. 
has targeted Muslims. 
 
- - - 
Fix the Afghanistan Border 
- - - 
 
¶8. (C) Senator Jeff Sessions stated that Pakistan cannot allow 
Afghanistan to deteriorate and urged that Pakistan improve the 
monitoring of its border.  Taseer responded that everyone must 
work together within the region to stabilize Afghanistan and the 
solution must come from within Afghanistan.  He pointed out that 
there are 170 million Muslims in India that also "feel deprived" 
and mistreated.  If Indian Muslims also "erupted," Taseer 
speculated, Pakistan would face crises on both borders and the 
extremist movement could sweep across the continent. 
 
¶9. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, Senator Kyl stated that 
the U.S. interest in Pakistan is longstanding, as shown by the 
new Obama strategy, which reinforces the U.S. desire to maintain 
a strong relationship with Pakistan. Senator Kyl reassured 
Taseer that the U.S. is in this for the "long haul" and will not 
abandon Pakistan after it achieves its strategic objectives. 
Taseer agreed that as a nuclear power with the largest Muslim 
army in the world, Pakistan must be on the U.S. screen. 
 
¶10. (C) Meeting participants: 
 
Pakistan 
-- Governor Salman Taseer 
U.S. 
-- Senator John Kyl 
-- Senator Jeff Sessions 
-- Representative Jane Harman 
-- Representative John Kline 
-- Representative Chris Carney 
-- Tim Morrison, National Security Policy Advisor to Senator Kyl 
-- Jennifer Stewart, National Security Advisor to Rep. Boehner 
-- Sandy Luff, Military Legislative Advisor to Senator Sessions 
-- CDR C.J. Cassidy, Navy Senate Liaison 
-- Lt. Natalie Schultz, Navy Senate Liaison 
-- Deputy Chief of Mission Jerry Feierstein 
-- Acting Principal Officer Matthew Lowe 
-- Political Officer Stephanie Hackenburg, notetaker 
 
¶11. (SBU) This cable was drafted after Codel Kyl departed post. 
LOWE