President Asif Ali Zardari stopped the Pakistan Army from conducting an operation in Waziristan, WikiLeaks has 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 General Ashfaq Kayani.
According to the cable, Kayani informed her that President Zardari had stopped the operation in Waziristan until spring due to political reasons.During the meeting, the COAS informed the US ambassador that he had met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan, but the purpose of the meeting was not political.
ISI chief Lt General Shuja Pasha was also present during the meeting. According to the cable, both Kayani and Pasha opposed certain aspects of the Kerry-Lugar bill stating that they were against the Pakistan Army and would negatively impact Pakistan-US relations. On the issue of backchannel diplomacy with India, the COAS said the US ambassador should speak with President Zardari. The cable also stated that both Kayani and Pasha wanted backchannel diplomacy with Indian to be successful.
