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Zardari stopped Waziristan operation: Wikileaks
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, stopped the Pakistan Army from conducting an operation in Waziristan, Wikileaks revealed.
In a diplomatic cable sent to Washington on October 6, 2009 the then ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson wrote about her meeting with Army chief Kiyani. According to the cable, Kiyani informed her that President Zardari had stopped the operation in Waziristan till spring due to political reasons.
During their meeting, COAS informed the US ambassador that he had met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar, but the purpose of this meeting was not political. ISI chief,Lt-General Shuja Pasha was also present during the meeting between the US ambassador and COAS.
According to the cable, both Kiyani and Pasha opposed certain aspects of the Kerry-Lugar bill stating that they were against the Pakistan Army and would negatively impact Pak-US relations. On the issue of back channel diplomacy with India, COAS said that the US ambassador should speak with President Zardari. The cable also stated that both Kiyani and Pasha wanted back channel diplomacy with Indian to be successful.
Courtesy www.geo.tv
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