Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12856 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AVERY AMGT AR ASEC AMED AORC AG AU AM APEC ABUD AF AS AGRICULTURE AEMR ASEAN APECO ACOA AJ AO AFIN ABLD ADPM AY ASCH AE AFFAIRS AA AC ARF APER AFU AINF AODE AMG ATPDEA AGAO ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AID AL AORL AFSI AFSN ADCO ASUP AN AIT ANET ASIG AGMT ADANA AADP ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ADM ACAO AND ATRN ALOW APCS AORG AROC ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ ASEX AER
BR BA BO BL BK BT BD BU BBSR BMGT BM BY BX BTIO BEXP BG BB BH BF BP BWC BRUSSELS BN BTIU BIDEN BE BILAT BC
CA CS CASC CO CI CD CH CN CY CONDOLEEZZA CU CE CVIS CG CMGT CF CPAS CDC CW CJAN CJUS CTM CM CFED CODEL CWC CR CBW CAN CLMT CBC CONS COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CDG CIC COUNTER CT CNARC CACM CB CV CIDA CLINTON CHR COE CIS CBSA CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC CTR COM CROS CARSON COPUOS CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB
DA DR DTRA DEA DHS DJ DO DEAX DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DS DEFENSE
EUN ECON ELAB ETRD EFIN ECIN EAGR EAIR EN EG ECA ET ER EWWT EIND EINV EAID EC EU EFIS ETTC EPET ENRG EMIN ECPS ENGR EINVETC ELTN ECONCS EZ ES EI ECONOMIC ELN EINT EPA ETRA EXTERNAL ESA ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIG EUR EK EUMEM EUREM EUC ENERG ERD EFTA ETRC ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR ENIV ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EXIM EFINECONCS ECONOMY ERNG EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL
FI FR FTA FTAA FBI FAC FJ FM FDA FARC FAO FO FOR FMLN FISO FAS FREEDOM FOREIGN FINANCE FINR FOI
GV GA GG GE GM GH GTIP GT GZ GAERC GR GOI GCC GOV GY GANGS GERARD GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HK HUMAN HA HO HR HU HURI HILLARY HYMPSK HSTC HEBRON HUMOR HI
IV IS IC IIP IR ICRC IZ IWC IAEA IT IN IRS ICAO IQ IMO ILC IMF ILO IF ITPHUM IL IO ID ISRAEL IACI INMARSAT IPR ICTY ICJ INDO IA IDA IBRD IAHRC ISLAMISTS IGAD ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IDP ICTR ITRA IRC IRAQI IEFIN ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR IZPREL IRAJ
JA JP JO JM JOSEPH JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KV KGIT KPAL KDEM KCRM KISL KPKO KSCA KOMC KTFN KNNP KN KZ KIPR KE KCIP KWMN KGIC KTIA KFRD KHDP KSEP KMPI KG KIRF KJUS KWBG KHLS KCOR KMDR KU KTDB KTIP KS KFLU KGHG KRAD KSPR KHIV KCOM KAID KOM KUNR KRVC KICC KBTS KSUM KOLY KAWC KIRC KDRG KCRS KNPP KSTH KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KFLO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KVPR KTEX KTER KRGY KCFE KIDE KSTC KREC KR KPAONZ KIFR KOCI KBTR KBIO KMCA KGCC KACT KMRS KAWK KSAC KWMNCS KNEI KPOA KSEO KFIN KWAC KNAR KPLS KPAK KSCI KPRP KOMS KBCT KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KSAF KCGC KPAI KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KVRP KNSD KMOC KTBT KENV KCMR KWMM KHSA KO KX KCRCM KNUP KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KDEMAF KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN
LY LE LH LABOR LI LG LO LA LU LOG LTTE LAB LT
MARR MOPS MO MASS MX MA MR MNUC MCAP MAPS MD MV MTCRE MY MP ML MILITARY MEPN MARAD MDC MU MEPP MIL MAPP MZ MT MASSMNUC MK MTCR MUCN MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MG MPS MW MC MTRE MRCRE MASC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK
NATO NL NI NZ NG NO NP NK NU NDP NPT NSF NR NAFTA NATOPREL NS NEW NA NE NSSP NSC NH NV NPA NSFO NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NIPP NZUS NC NRR NAR
OEXC OVIP OTRA ODIP OFDP OPDC OPIC OIIP OPRC OAS OREP OSCE OECD OPCW OSCI OMIG OVP OIE ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS OES OCS OIC OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PTER PREL PE PHUM PGOV PARM PINR PREF PINS PBTS PA PK PM PL PO POL PROP PSOE PHSA PAK PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PHUS PTBS PU PNAT POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PP PINL PBT PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PAHO PROV PHUMPGOV POV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL PREO POLITICS POLICY PDOV PCI PRAM PSI PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON
QA
RS RU RW RIGHTSPOLMIL RICE RUPREL RIGHTS RO RF RELATIONS RP RM RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO ROOD ROBERT RSP
SCUL SNAR SP SENV SU SO SMIG SOCI SW SA SZ SY SL SENVKGHG SF SR SN SARS SANC SHI SIPDIS SEVN SHUM SC SI STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SG SYRIA SNARIZ SWE SIPRS SYR SAARC SEN SCRS SAN ST SSA SPCVIS SOFA
TSPL TBIO TU TH TP TRGY TPHY TZ TW TX TSPA TFIN TC TI TS TAGS TK TIP TNGD TL TV TT TINT TERRORISM TR TN TD TBID TF THPY TO TRSY TURKEY
UN UNSC UK US UNGA UNDP UP UG USTR UNHRC UY UNESCO UNMIK UNEP UZ UNO UNHCR USEU UNAUS UNCHR UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UV UNCND USUN USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VZ VM VE VT VAT VC VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG
WS WHA WHO WTRO WIPO WEU WZ WTO WMO WA WWARD WHTI WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WITH
XA XR XM XG XW XB XV XF XD XS XK XY XC XL XZ XX XU XI XT XH XQ XE XTAG
YI YM YE YMCS
ZI ZF ZU ZR ZK ZANU ZB ZEALAND ZP ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZN ZA

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 10ISLAMABAD345, WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION OF DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI,S

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10ISLAMABAD345.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
10ISLAMABAD345 | 2010-02-12 13:05 | 2010-11-30 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Islamabad

`

    VZCZCXRO2459
    PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
    DE RUEHIL #0345/01 0431305
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 121305Z FEB 10
    FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7350
    INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1485
    RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2413
    RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 6092
    RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 7566
    RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 8509
    RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2902
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4179
    RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0707
    RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0132

` `

    Friday, 12 February 2010, 13:05
    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000345
    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS
    EO 12958 DECL: 10/06/2019
    TAGS PGOV, PREL, PTER, PREF, EAID, PK
    SUBJECT: WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION OF DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI,S
    GUILTY VERDICT
    Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
    ¶1. (U) Summary: The guilty verdict against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of NY sparked protests and public condemnation across Pakistan on February 4 and 5. The reaction to the Siddiqui verdict was front-page news in all the major newspapers. A number of press articles condemned the U.S. and blamed the verdict on anti-Muslim bias. Criticism was also directed at the Government of Pakistan (GOP) for failing to do more to secure the return of Siddiqui and for its allegedly muted response to the verdict. The Pakistani Government promised to do all that was necessary to secure her release and return her to Pakistan, including providing further legal assistance. The Afghan Taliban issued a statement threatening to execute a captured U.S. soldier if Siddiqui was not released. During a meeting with the DCM and POLOFF on February 8, a group of moderate Muslim religious leaders expressed dismay at the verdict and requested that President Obama step in and release Siddiqui. End Summary.
    ¶2. (C) The guilty verdict against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has sparked public protests and condemnation of the U.S. The response to the verdict has resurrected familiar allegations that Dr. Siddiqui was kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agencies and the FBI, unlawfully detained by the U.S. in Afghanistan, and physically and mentally abused by American soldiers. (Note: Shortly after Siddiqui was arrested by Afghan authorities in 2008, Ambassador and POLCON met with HRCP Chairman Asma Jehangir who speculated that Siddiqui may have been held by ISI since the time of her disappearance in 2003. Jehangir aslo specualted that she could have gone underground which would also explain her absence from 2003 to 2008. End Note) A number of newspaper articles have criticized the U.S. as anti-Muslim and a violator of human rights, accused the Pakistani government of kowtowing to the U.S., and called on Pakistan to end its cooperation with the USG in fighting terrorism.
    ¶3. (U) Senior government officials expressed disappointment at the verdict and declared that they would provide further legal assistance to Siddiqui for her appeal. According to the newspaper “Dawn,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari was “concerned about the verdict and expressed the hope that justice will ultimately be done as the case passes through the subsequent stages in the U.S. judicial system.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said that the government was dismayed over the unexpected verdict and that its main objective was to ensure Siddiqui,s return to Pakistan. On February 9, Prime Minister Syed Yousef Raza Gilani met with Siddiqui,s mother and sister and confirmed that “the Pakistani government will continue to extend diplomatic, legal and moral support to Siddiqui,” according to the “Dawn” newspaper.
    ¶4. (U) Both the government and the NGO community spoke out against the verdict. In addition to the USG, much of the anger was directed at the GOP for its failure to secure Siddiqui,s release. Protests were held in various cities and towns across Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islam (JI) women activists demonstrated outside the party,s headquarters in Mansoora. In Islamabad, Pakistan,s Professional Forum (PPF), along with other civil society groups, staged a protest against Siddiqui,s “illegal detention.” These protestors claimed that only Pakistani courts had jurisdiction over this case and accused the government of not doing enough to secure her release. On February 5, the Punjab Provincial Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution expressing solidarity with Siddiqui and her family and called on the federal government to provide all diplomatic and legal support to her case. The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) passed a resolution “condemning the decision and the  indifferent attitude of the Pakistani Government,, towards the case.” Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Raja Zulqarnain also criticized the verdict and repeated similar accusations that the U.S., rather than a champion of human rights, was a violator of human rights.
    ¶5. (U) The Afghan Taliban demanded Siddiqui,s release and
    ISLAMABAD 00000345 002 OF 002
    threatened to execute a U.S. soldier they are holding. In a statement to a local Pakistani paper, “The News,” an Afghan Taliban spokesman claimed that Siddiqui,s family had approached the Afghan Taliban seeking their support in pressuring the USG. In Karachi, Siddiqui,s family held a press conference in which they called on the GOP to pressure the USG by shutting down the supply routes for NATO troops in Afghanistan. Appearing on TV talk shows on February 4, Siddiqui,s mother and sister repeated claims that Siddiqui is innocent and is in poor health due to the suffering she has endured throughout her ordeal. They accused the GOP of “doing nothing” and requested that the government pressure the USG to release her.
    ¶6. (SBU) During a meeting with DCM and POLOFFs on February 8, a group of moderate Muslim religious leaders expressed very strong feelings about the Siddiqui case and the guilty verdict. The religious leaders were unified in their belief that Siddiqui did not receive a fair trial and called for mercy on the grounds that she was a woman. They claimed that the verdict detracted from President Obama,s efforts to reach out to the Muslim community and that he should step in and release Siddiqui as a show of good faith towards the world,s Muslims. The US Embassy representatives pushed back noting that Siddiqui had receieved a fair trail in the U.S., was given every opportunity to present evidence in her own defense, and was convicted by a jury. Moreover, Siddiqui has the right to appeal her conviction. Nevertheless, the Pakastani participants were assured that their views and concerns would be communicated to Washington.
    ¶7. (SBU) Comment: The Siddiqui case has from its outset elicited a strong, emotional response among the Pakistani public, and has regularly been raised with us by senior Pakistani officials. Many Pakistanis were undoubtedly taken by surprise by the verdict as one-sided media coverage of the case reported only her defense and not the prosecution’s case, leading local observers to conclude her acquital was a near certainty. We expect this issue to persist for some time as a nationalistic cause with the active involvement of the JI who never tire of anti-American agitation. PATTERSON

`