Washington:
Powerful US Senator John Kerry asked Yusuf Raza Gilani to present before India Pakistan's plan of action for fighting terrorism if it was "really serious" in resuming Indo-Pak dialogue, but the Premier expressed concern that the public would not support the idea.
Details of the meeting between Kerry, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Gilani on February 16 have been communicated in a confidential cable from the US embassy in Islamabad, which was leaked by WikiLeaks.
During the meeting, Kerry said that in light of the February 13 bombings in Pune, politicians in India were focused on counter-terrorism.
"And as such he suggested that Pakistan present the Indian government with its plan to tackle terrorism," the cable said.
Kerry told Gilani that this would be a clear "confidence builder" that would make India more willing to move forward in talks about Kashmir and water disputes.
He emphasised that the future of India, Pakistan and the US depended on their governments' willingness to "challenge old suspicions" and work together and suggested that Pakistan and India sign a non-aggression pact.
"Kerry said that the US and other countries of goodwill would be prepared to help in any way possible."
According to the cable, Gilani agreed to present Kerry's proposal to the Pakistani leadership.
"He was amenable to the idea of a rapprochement in the India-Pakistan relation, but expressed concern that the public would not support the idea," the cable said.
"Kerry said that in order to gain public support for this initiative, the GOP needed to clearly outline the long-term economic benefits of improved bilateral relations, such as improvements in social development and increased investments and trade, to the Pakistani people," said the cable written by Ann Patterson, the then US Ambassador to Pakistan.
India-Pak relationshipThe two leaders are appeared to have discussed at length the India-Pak relationship.
Gilani indicated that Pakistan was willing to resume talks with the Indian government and pointed to the February 25 meeting between Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan as evidence of such.
"He added that the GOP and India had also resumed back channel discussions. Gilani said that improving bilateral relations with India was in Pakistan's best interest as it would enable the GOP to focus all of its attention on securing its western border," the cable said.
Gilani, however, noted that in order to gain public support for this process, the US had to "treat India and
Pakistan equally." "He added that India would need to gain Pakistan's trust and indicated that reducing the Indian footprint in Afghanistan and halting Indian support of militants in Balochistan would be steps in the right direction," the cable noted.
Kerry said that the Foreign Secretaries meeting had "enormous potential" and urged Pakistan not to allow pressure from the local media and the masses to "derail these efforts."
He argued that dialogue with India was an opportunity to "create new security arrangements that could change the regional dynamics".
While assuring Gilani that the effort would not be US-driven, Kerry indicated that the United States was open to the idea of serving as a mediator to help facilitate the resumption of the Pakistan-India Composite Dialogue.
Zardari on Manmohan SinghOn the same day, Kerry met President Asif Ali Zardari asked him to reach an agreement with India on counter terrorism, but he did not appear to be forthcoming and instead lodged an usual complaint that New Delhi has increased its military budget.
"In a February 16 (2010) meeting with President Zardari, Senator Kerry said that India was very open to constructive talks with Pakistan, and urged Pakistan to reach an agreement with India on counter terrorism.
"Zardari said with US support, talks could move forward," the secret US cable said.
Senator John Kerry opened the February 16 meeting with Zardari by referring to his recent talks Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Gilani.
Kerry said Singh was "very open" to negotiation with Pakistan starting with Foreign Secretaries meeting.
"Kerry said that cooperation on counter terrorism with the Indians could lead to Indian compromises on key Pakistani issues such as Kashmir and water use in subsequent meetings.
"Kerry encouraged the Government of Pakistan to come up with specific offers to which the Government of India could respond," the cable said.
Zardari agreed dialogue is the only way forward. However, he justified continued suspicion of India, citing recent "confirmation" that there was Indian involvement in the Mumbai attacks.
He claimed India had increased its military spending 30 percent this year and described this as a direct threat to Pakistan, it said.
When Kerry pointed out the Chinese threat to India, Zardari responded that Indian tanks cannot operate in the Chinese border region and could only be intended for an attack on Pakistan.
India has 4,700 tanks, he explained, while Pakistan has only 2,600.
"Capability creates a fear," he added, the cable said. According to the cable, Kerry said Zardari should put
his concerns on the negotiating table as there was a real opportunity for productive conversation between India and Pakistan now: "You could arrive at a surprising consensus of mutual understanding."
Zardari conceded that Singh deserved respect, but said he was not confident about the rest of the Indian government, the US Ambassador wrote.