Cutting Nawaz Sharif's foreign funds.

[Last Hope]

New WikiLeaks cables have revealed that the ISI had asked Saudi Arabia to stop funding Nawaz Sharif’s campaign in the last elections.

Former ISI chief Nadeem Taj told the Saudi Ambassador in a meeting that the aid violated Pakistan’s agreement with the Saudis on Nawaz’s return from exile.
The cable, which was filed by former ambassador Anne Patterson, reads:

Aziz expressed great concern to Ambassador about a possible PPP-Nawaz alliance. Aziz claimed the Saudis were heavily funding Sharif’s campaign to ensure a PPP defeat and hedge their bets against Musharraf. Taj called the Saudi Ambassador and requested this stop, saying it violated the GOP’s agreement with the Saudis on Nawaz’s return from exile. Aziz observed that if the PML-N and the PPP formed a government, “What options would Musharraf have?”

Former National Security Advisor and Musharraf’s trusted aide Tariq Aziz also expressed great concern to the American Ambassador in this regard.
He told the American envoy that the Saudis were heavily funding Sharif’s campaign to ensure PPP’s defeat and hedge their bets against Musharraf.

The cable has also revealed that President Zardari had raised the idea of becoming Prime Minister with Tariq Aziz after the 2008 polls. But Aziz supported Amin Faheem.
Zardari complained that Faheem was a poor administrator who lacked the skills needed to run the government.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 141804

2/16/2008 6:37

Embassy Islamabad

CONFIDENTIAL

ISLAMABAD 000691

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018

TAGS: PGOV, PK, PREL

SUBJECT: ZARDARI`S POST ELECTION PLANS

REF: ISLAMABAD 549

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b), (d)

1. (C) Summary: National Security Adviser Aziz told Ambassador February 15 that he, Musharraf, and ISI Director Taj have met several times with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari on post-election planning. Zardari has scheduled a PPP Executive Committee meeting on February 19 to choose the PPP’s PM candidate. Believing Amin Faheem to be weak, Zardari appears to be considering choosing PPP Punjab President Shah Mehmood Qureshi as a PPP candidate for Prime Minister. Aziz fears Zardari wants to be Prime Minister himself and that he might cut a deal with Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, leaving Musharraf out in the cold. We see Zardari’s continuing contacts with the government as a sign that he will deal with Musharraf after the election; only the poll numbers can determine whether a PPP-Nawaz alliance is really feasible. End Summary.



2. (C) On February 15, NSA Tariq Aziz told Ambassador that in the past four day he has met twice with Zardari, who asked him for “advice” on who should be prime minister if the PPP is asked to form a government. DG ISI Taj and Aziz urged Zardari not to pursue the premiership for himself, as it would split the party and reduce PPP’s national influence. Zardari raised the idea of becoming Prime Minister with Aziz on February 14. Aziz told Ambassador that this might have been possible in years past, but under the new constitution, which stipulates that the PM must be a member of parliament, Zardari would not qualify (reftel).



3. (C) Aziz said he encouraged Zardari to support Amin Faheem for PM. Zardari complained that Faheem is a poor administrator who lacks the skills needed to run the government. Aziz admitted to Ambassador that this is true; when Faheem was Minister of Communications he spent much of his time at his home in Karachi, only came to the Ministry a few days a week, and arrived at the office mid-day. Aziz told Zardari that Faheem’s shortcomings could be mitigated by appointing a strong staff, but Zardari remained convinced Faheem was too weak to be PM.



4. (C) Zardari seemed to be pushing PPP Punjab President Shah Mehmood Qureshi as a possible PM candidate. Aziz was less enthusiastic with this option; he told Zardari that Qureshi would not work well with other parties, was very ambitious, and implied Qureshi could threaten Zardari’s authority. Zardari and Aziz also discussed Former Defense Minister Aftab Mirani and PPP Vice Chairman Yousef Gilani as less likely PM options.



5. (C) Although they recently held a joint press conference, Zardari claimed Nawaz Sharif was “pestering him.” Aziz expressed great concern to Ambassador about a possible PPP-Nawaz alliance. Aziz claimed the Saudis were heavily funding Sharif’s campaign to ensure a PPP defeat and hedge their bets against Musharraf. Taj called the Saudi Ambassador and requested this stop, saying it violated the GOP’s agreement with the Saudis on Nawaz’s return from exile. Aziz observed that if the PML-N and the PPP formed a government, “What options would Musharraf have?” Aziz, who previously predicted Musharraf’s party would win 66 National Assembly seats, now said he thought the party would not even hold on to the Punjab Provincial Assembly.



6. (C) Comment: Aziz was clearly depressed and pessimistic about the possibility that Musharraf’s party could hold on to power in the next government; we see Zardari’s continuing contacts with the government as a sign that he will deal with Musharraf after the election. Zardari has scheduled a PPP Executive Committee meeting on February 19 to choose the PPP’s PM candidate. Qureshi has been actively promoting himself as a PM candidate and has been campaigning in both Sindh and Punjab, but we wonder if a Punjabi with a limited following would be accepted by a Sindh-based party. Also on February 15, the Election Commission’s Secretary predicted to Ambassador that Nawaz would do very well in Punjab. However, many analysts question whether Nawaz has fielded enough decent candidates to pull past either Musharraf’s party or the PPP. Only the poll numbers can determine whether a PPP-Nawaz alliance is really feasible.

PATTERSON

 

[RazorMC]

Saudi's play both sides.
Supported Musharraf and Sharif at the same time.

When will people start voting for legitimate parties ?

 

[idealsome425]

In the light of this leak.... who will be supported heavily by Saudi government this time???

I think Nawaz hold a strong relation with Saudi Government and will be having their support, however we cannot be sure about anything until general elections held.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

This matter is not limited to Nawaz Sharif or Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan is awash in black money that flows in and out of the country without any oversight, creating opportunities for all sorts of crimes and influencing politics.

That is the real problem and not easy to fix, considering that it has been allowed to go on for decades.

 

[RazorMC]

Further to this, I'd just like to add that KSA is not solely to blame for this intrusion into our personal affairs. There are other countries who are also looking to extend their influence for their own objectives and our nationals go around the world begging for this exact type of support. Who is to blame if our own politicians go around the world lobbying and shining their images?

Dictators and politicians make no difference to foreign parties, they will back anyone who is willing to toe their line. Traditionally, it has been the conservative segment that KSA has favoured. While the more liberal segment has been opposed.

Part of this preference comes from their own lack of experience with democracy and part of it stems from their own interests. A modern, democratic Pakistan will pose the same risk to them as Turkey does today.

 

[Amaa'n]

Either a piece is missing or I have failed to understand US position on this. Nawaz being supported by KSA means he will be easily manipulated and can play in the hands of US. Unless Zardari ensured his loyality to Americans too?
Where does the IB secret fund to topple punjab Govt. fit into this?

 

[idealsome425]

I would like seniors/experienced members to please elaborate/discuss roles of intelligence agencies of Pakistan, are they doing their jobs for the welfare of the country? as far as my personal opinion is concerned I am sure they are working for the better and safe Pakistan. Please give some examples or share some stories to clear the perception of common man about these agencies etc.

Thank you