WikiLeaks: Cables on Pakistani terror and more

New Delhi: Among a quarter million secret US documents released by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, 2,220 cables originate from the US embassy in Islamabad.

While there are some surprises in these Islamabad cables, other bits confirm India's long standing fears about Pakistan - especially it's inability to act against terror groups.

The then US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, tells Washington on September 23, 2009, "There is no chance that Pakistan will view enhanced assistance levels in any field as sufficient compensation for abandoning support for these groups, which it sees as an important part of its national security apparatus against India." (Read)

In a blunt assessment, which underscores the limited US influence on an establishment where India is enemy no.1, Patterson also says, "American policy to improve ties with India feeds Pakistani establishment paranoia and pushes them closer to both Afghan and Kashmir focused terrorist groups." (Read: Pak won't abandon terror groups)

Patterson even suggests that the United States reassess its ties with India to please Pakistan."Increased Indian investment in, trade with, and development support to the Afghan government, which the US govt has encouraged, causes Pakistan to embrace Taliban groups all the more closely. We need to reassess Indian involvement in Afghanistan and our own policies towards India," says Patterson. (Read)

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The one cable, that has raised many eyebrows, is one where US Vice President Joe Biden tells the then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that Zardari feared Pakistani Army Chief Kayani would "take him out." (Read: Zardari feared a coup)

An April 2009 cable from the US embassy in Chile, where the two met says, "Vice President Biden commented that Zardari had told him two months ago that ISI director and Kiyani will take me out.  Brown thought this unlikely and said that Kiyani did not want to be another Musharraf. " (Read)

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The leaked cables also show major fears about Pakistan's nuclear weapons. A cable written by Anne Patterson in February 2009 to Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke says, "Our major concern is not having an Islamic militant steal an entire weapon but rather the chance someone working in govt facilities could gradually smuggle enough material out to eventually make a weapon."

In a refernce to Kashmir in the same cable, Patterson says, "Despite arrests of key LeT/JUD leaders and closure of some of their camps, it is unclear if ISI has finally abandoned its policy of using these proxy forces as a foreign policy tool; we need to continue pressing them to realize this strategy has become counter-productive in Kashmir, Afghanistan and FATA."

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The US envoy to Islamabad met Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today. After the meeting, both described the leaks as "mischief" and  "malicious disclosures." (Read: Pakistan reacts to WikiLeaks)