ISLAMABAD: A WikiLeaks report has claimed that Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, commenting on the assassination of former Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto, had observed that he had been afraid of just “such an outcome” ever since she had decided to return to Pakistan.
The WikiLeaks quoted the prince the prince as cautioning in a meeting held at the US Foreign Ministry on January 2, 2008, that the “US must not be seen publicly to be influencing Pakistan’s internal affairs, lest it inadvertently inflame matters by provoking extremists to further violence.”
Prince Saud characterised Pakistan’s internal situation as “serious and tense”, and described the country’s political environment as “poisonous”.
He emphasised the need to maintain stability, noting that the key challenge for then President Pervez Musharraf to maintain the unity of the Pakistani armed forces.
He voiced strong support for holding planned parliamentary elections, but also said a limited postponement would be acceptable, given the current situation in the country.
Postponing the elections could be “an opportunity for the Pakistanis to talk things out”, he said. Prince Saud cautioned that Pakistan must be allowed to resolve its current political crisis internally, without overt, external pressure.
