Memogate: Truth or fiction?
This was revealed when the memo was published online by Foreign Policy magazine.
The memo, which was allegedly conveyed to Mullen by Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani a week after the Osama bin Laden raid in May, was reportedly sent by President Zardari who at the time feared a military takeover in Pakistan.
The memo allegedly refers to “a dangerous devolution of the ground situation in Islamabad where no control appears to be in place". It adds that if the military does take over, Pakistan may “become a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden’s legacy and potentially the platform for far more rapid spread of al Qaeda's brand of fanaticism and terror”.
It also stated that an opportunity exists for “civilians to gain the upper hand over the army and intelligence directorates due to their complicity in the Osama bin Laden matter”.
It further added that in the event of Washinton’s message to Kayani, the new national security team is prepared to do the following:
- An independent inquiry into the Bin Laden raid will be ordered
- The inquiry will be independent and accountable
- The new team will implement the policy of either handing over those left in al Qaeda leadership or other affiliated groups on Pakistan soil. The team also gives the US miltary "green light" to conduct necessary operations to capture or kill them on Pakistani soil.
- The new national security team is prepared, with full backing of the Pakistani government, to develop an acceptable framework of discipline for the nuclear program.
- The new team will eliminate Section S of the ISI allegedly charged with maintaining relations to the Taliban and Haqqani network
- Government of Pakistan will cooperate with new national security team and India government to bring perpetrators of Pakistani origin to account for Mumbai attacks 2008, whether outside or inside the government, including its intelligence agencies.
The memorandum has been leaked by Pakistani American Mansoor Ijaz who told the Financial Times on Thursday that he had been asked to deliver the message by Husain Haqqani.
“Husain Haqqani, whom I have known for over 10 years, was indeed the senior Pakistani diplomat who asked me to assist him in privately delivering his message to Admiral Mike Mullen,” Mr Ijaz said. He also detailed phone and email contact between himself and Mr Haqqani in May as they finalised the draft of the memorandum and awaited “the boss’s approval”. “The boss was an obvious reference to President Zardari,”Ijaz said.
Haqqani said on Thursday that the claims made by Ijaz are baseless, and has offered to resign over the scandal.
Hours after Ambassador Haqqani offered to resign, the website of a prestigious US-based publication, which had printed a denial on the matter by Mullen a few days ago, dropped a bombshell by claiming that the former chairman US joint chiefs of staff had confirmed receiving the alleged memo.
Read more: Alarm bells as Mullen confirms secret memo
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The full text of the memo can be viewed here.
COMMENTS (57)
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One thing we all agree that Mansoor Ijaz is a questionable shady character. Why he wrote/delivered the memo and then disclosed it remain un-answered. That is the main point. Be that as it many this fiasco has weakened both civilian and military leadership. In my honest and humble opinion “Pakistan has to play ball on the US terms” or they would make life impossible for Pakistan. I am not saying it is fair but after being caught in bed with OBL, Pakistan has proved that they are with the worst terrorists and anti Americans. This cannot be easily forgiven by the Americans. We can fool Pakistani public but the inevitable cannot be avoided.
Why would Haqqani, who has MANY INFLUENTIAL AMERICAN contacts, far more powerful than Ijaz and sitting close to the seats of power, NEED Ijaz as any go-between? That is too absurd to be believed! Haqqani could get the memo passed to a 100 people a 100 different ways, if he so chose. He is the least stupid man in Washington and would never have done stuff incriminating himself. This is the idiotic, ham-handed method that has ISI WRITTEN all over it-- clumsy, and bound to rebound to ill-effect.
@Anon:
"So why the double standards? Why should we let the government get away with it? Is this what democracy is? Selling out the whole country and asking for foreign interference worth for the sake of democracy?"
Yes, this is real democracy. A real democratic government elected by the people as defined in the constitution has the right to seek any help to save democracy and cut down unconstitutional usurpers of power (read military). If Zardari and Haqqani did this, they are indeed true patriots who took risk to save Pakistan from falling into the hands of extra constitutional actors. By the way, what is wrong with the points raised in the memo? They the truth.
Having said that, I don't trust this shady character Ijaz. He has a very questionable past history and background. For all we know, he might have been the one who concocted this memo in collusion with extra-constitutional actors to destroy democracy in Pakistan.
Three possibilities which should be contemplated. First of all eliminate pak army and isi from the conspiracy factory because they are for the sake of pak. Now no.1 The Civilian Govt of Pak , whatever political party is in regime always wants to rule over establishment and knee down infront of US to take dollars with filthy mouth , this reason led them to write Mullen. 2. It has been seen that our coas is likely democratic and deals in a very serious manner on major issues parsuading civil govt and by developing the concensus. Kayani's this tactic has been seen when raymond incident happened and the OBL mean when the question on soveriegnity raises. It could be possible that Memorandum is deliberate conspiracy by US administration to creat clashes b/w military and civil govt because afterall Mansoor Ijaz is uncredible,and every enemy of Pak favours distabilize the current collabrated regime. 3. Third possibility which has little significance but theory is that Haqqani wants to be the head of National Security Advisor.
This could be an attempt by the army to take over. If the memo was supposedly issued in march why is it coming out now. Looks like preparation to overthrow the system. Plus Zardari and Haqqani are extremely immature why did they choose an untrustable person to send this message?
"Haqqani said on Thursday that the claims made by Ijaz are baseless, and has offered to resign over the scandal." I can only laugh at that !! If someone put a blame on you, you defend it and in US, you can sue him but not crack funny jokes. Its clearly a smart move by Zardari to tackle army just like he is tackling MQM by using Zulfiqar Mirza.
haqqanis memo is ref;ective of ppps another antistate activity.zardari and his antipakistan team must go otherwise
@Raj - USA: The Pakistani people simply do not have a will, to take on its Army!! History confirms this fact over past 60 years, including loss of East Pakistan! The bengalis had the will to take them on, But Pakistanis are not Arabs or Libyans who will take them on in street battles. Its another matter to turn up for their street protest and Ghairat marches, but trying to oppose the Army in Pakistan is simply not an option for the people.
@VINOD: Had Zardari gone to the USA and discussed directly with the President of USA, this would have led to USA seeking UN mandate to intervene directly. Zardari wanted to give the Army a chance and so kept the option of deniability of the memo. If the Army is adamant and seeks to topple the civilian government, it would lead to a CIVIL WAR IN PAKISTAN. Hope the Army has the right thoughts for the People of Pakistan.
The change of government is in the offing.
This is just a trailer of the film. The actual film will start after Hussain Haqqani will arrive in Pakistan.
Today Pakistan is passing through a political storm and the change is inevitable.
We are heading towards where a caretaker government will be formed in due course of time.
In 1996 or 1997 Mansur Ijaz wrote an Op Ed in the WSJ against BB. Her government fell two months later.
At that time I felt M Ijaz was a bit of a creep and a great self-promoter. His latest gig only reinforced my dislike for him. He should concentrate on making money and stop meddling in the affairs of states. He is no James Bond.
Exit Haqqani.
@jannahprince
This looks like credible memo to me . Any body who is involved in it should be trailed and punished with maximum punishment if its death sentence so be it
Even if it looks like a credible memo to you. what will you 'trail' anyone for?
A. The memo says there is a possibility of a military coup.
With so many coups in the past, can you assure that there won't be another one?
B. It promises an honest inquiry in OBL affair.
I believe hosting OBL is 'treason' and not discovering the truth. Do you agree?
C. 'S' .wing will be wound up and support to terrorists will be stopped.
Isn't that a commitment Pakistan has repeatedly given to to the world, and does not Pakistan owe cessation of terror to its own citizens?
D. Mumbai will be investigated.
There are people already being tried for Mumbai and Gen Pasha has accepted that some 'rogue elements' of ISI may have helped Mumbai terror strike.
Do find out the definition of 'Treason' as given in Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Very sad , indeed. .
The questions as rightly raised are 1.If part of the game.Why did Mr. Mansoor Ijaz leaked and wrote the article? 2.As Ambassador Mr Haqqani had direct access to highest civil authority in USA so why would he choose a businessman who may in future betray? 3.Why would Mr Haqqani send the memo to Mikke Mullen a person who was retiring shortly and himself an Army man? 4.Why would Mr Zardari as President go through some one in such delicate matter, he could have gone to USA on any pretext and discussed directly with the President of USA.? The entire episode is being projected with a motive and only time will tell whose game plan is this Army or Civil. One should watch coolly.
@Mirza: However it is sad but a fact.
Look you guys and girls Pakistani American Mansoor Ijaz & Hussain Haqqani are simple messengers. Dont kill the messengers go after the big thugs. One question comes to mind is why Pakistani American Mansoor Ijaz out of the blue turned coats? Something must have happend for him to spill the beans. I wonder what? Problems btween the Armed Forces and the civilian head of state is nothing new in Pakistan.
Brilliant move by Zardari. He has got himself a perfect shield against a coup, and has pre-empted one!! Kayani is now on backfoot and dare not throw his weight around. He has been neutralised just like the chief justice! No one needs to be tried for treason. The facts of the case point to eventual control of Army by civilian govts, as happens wordwide. Pakistanis shoud laud this memo as a harbinger of keeping Democracy alive!
Article 6 for Musharraf would have been Political. It's time that come to play for some 'real reasons'.
Good luck with reining in the army. They have enjoyed absolute power for over 40 years and they're not about to give it up for anybody. Their multi-billion dollar businesses are at stake here.
why is express tribune siding with the memo. why does this article not mentiuon that the US will nominate the inquiry committee into UBL hideout?
Seems conspiracy against Pakistan; countries like India-Israel-US co-ordinate such acts to demolish or shaken our unity.
I don't see anything wrong with this. It is a public worldwide knowledge that Pakistan Army is rogue and doesn't go by people's mandate. Civilian representatives are gasping for breath under the suffocating actions of this rogue army, and have no way to reign it in.
So, obviously they'll seek outside help. In fact, I don't see an alternative for the world but to reign in Pak army someway, and strengthen the Pakistani civilians, for apparently Pakistani civilians don't seem to be capable of doing it on their own.
Now, if Pakistani civilians indeed want their army to continue to be rogue (i.e. out of control of people's representatives), then no one in the world can help Pakistan from breaking up in to 3-4 pieces.
This memo really shows the complete failure of the whole system within this Country!!! Not only they have trust deficit with neighbouring countries and their allies, but also within themselves internally too. In regards to Mumbai attacks it clearly shows the duplicity and their inactions against those responsible !!! Time is not far before another period of Army rule in Pakistan, on basis of their present form !!!
The civilian government should take stand on their civilian ambassador. Zardari should ask for support from the opposition leader Nawaz Shareef in this regard and he should help him in controlling the Army. Enough is enough.
Haqqani - should be tried for treason
Democracy - what democracy in Pakistan?
Army - come back all is forgiven... (that is until the next round of democratic fever hits us)...
Pakistan - God help you (which He obviously has and is thus far!)
Plain and simple this is High Treason
I think it was purely an internal matter of pakistan and civil govt. has every right to issue such secret memo but what I would like to comment here is this that the act of Pakistani American Mansoor Ijaz has proved once again that NRP in general and muslims in particular are not trustworthy people.
As a Pakistani I abhored the statement of US legislators when it was said that we sell our soul for money and power. Here we are today selling our soul to stay in power. What credibility does our political leadership has when they go and ask for help and make promises to their foriegn masters to protect themselves, instead of getting the institutions together and resolving the issues the country is experiencing. Its sad that these politicians talk big about solving critical issues but have failed to solve simple mystries despite being in power for nearly four years, murder of Benazir Bhutto, NICL scam, Haj scam. Instead of sitting down and talk through complex issues, make public institutions strong, give power to people them to solve their own problems, create jobs. speak to the masses in Balochistan they have done nothing. Yes they have helped in increasing the polarisation among institutions, from armed forces to the courts, created more wealth for themselves and their children and above all have descreated the good name of the country through embezzling, and the greed for the sake of staying in Power. Shame on the political leadership of Pakistan.
A damning insight into the affairs in Pakistan.
Haqqani should be tried for treason.
There is nothing wrong with the memo. Infact, Zardari was within its rights to seek help to save the democratic elected govt who on many occasions in the past were toppled by the military on one pretext or the other.
Mansoor Ijaz is a self confessed confidant and friend of ten years of Ambassador Haqqani and ostensibly understood the gravity of public disclosure of such a communication then what is it that motivated him to go for public disclosure for such a flammable material . Mansoor ' s betrayal is rationally and plainly not understood and casts doubt on the authenticity of the letter and his motivations .Ambassador Haqqani is an experienced well educated Washington think tank experienced man . He knows who is who in Washington and as is being dished out euphemistically he being American Ambassador for Pakistan in Washington why would he seek the services of Mansoor and compromise himself and the position of his government..
Clearly it does not gell , but let us wait and see how all of it pans out .
Why is that the government should be subjected to benefit of doubt despite mounting evidence against it but the army is subjected to the worst suspicions simply on the basis of a NYT article or a statement by an American official? You do realise the memo has been confirmed and declared authentic by Mullens own office. So why the double standards? Why should we let the government get away with it? Is this what democracy is? Selling out the whole country and asking for foreign interference worth for the sake of democracy?
If the memo is true and sent by Zardari or even leaked by him, he is very cleaver. He has secured an insurance policy. Now the Army cannot take any action against him. Probably they can be lax with his security that may give the terrorists a chance to get him. But, as the memo has supposedly been sent by a committee, a division within the army is inferred. If so, the splinter division may protect him.
@The Express Tribune
No affiliation with any political party what so ever, as a matter of fact I have never voted in my entire life, the bottom line here is that they(Politicians) be them Pakistani or American, they are all dirty as hell, in this case I definitely smell the rat. So please snap out of the denial, report fairly and stop toeing the PPP line.
P.S. I smell a Martial Law in Pakistan soon
All this is based on the premise that Admiral Mullen did, in fact, receive such a memo. THis could be "untrue" ...... deliberately. ......... Also, while I am not exactly a fan of any of our leaders, civilian or military ........ I find it hard to believe that both, Mr Zardari and Mr. Haqani are such fools that they would A) write such a memo to Admiral Mullen or anybody in the US establishment. and B) seriously expect that people in the US establishment can succeed in putting this sort of pressure on the Pakistan Army ......
@Rehman Azhar: Yes. But the admission by Mullen's spokesperson is still not actionable or credible evidence. Kasab also admitted to the Mumbai massacre and it was not a actionable and credible evidence.
Why doesn't Mansoor Ijaz name the diplomat who he claims gave him the memorandum? Sounds like a conspiracy by Mansoor Ijaz and possibly with backing of some agency trying to topple the government by dirty tricks.
But the fact remains that Mullen's spokesman did admit receiving that memo !
@Asif: According to Pakistan Law and Pakistan Courts none of these are actionable and credible evidences. So, Haqqani and Zardari are totally innocent.
" The new security team will dismantle section S of ISI, charged with maintaining relations with haqqanis and Taliban etc, which will remarkably improve the situation in Afghanistan"
WOW, the beauty of it! Are these people out of their minds!
If people believe that Zardari's team actually wrote this memo, then they must also believe the last paragraph of the memo where it clearly states that government has enough evidence of the guilt of people of Pakistani origin people outside government and also within ISI in the Mumbai 2008 terror attacks and it would make these people accountable.
The other option is that while this memo exists, it was not written by Zardari or his people but simply includes indirectly accuses elected officials of hot buttons like co-operating with India and Afghanistan. By doing that alongside the promise of independent inquiry, the military (if it is behind this whole drama) is trying to discredit any outcomes of the independent inquiry by showing the inquiry to be a conspiracy against the army.
Time for Haqqani to go!
Pakistani army needs victory (just like the victory Musharraf had against Sharif). The only victory they can have is against their own people.
Are you aware that Mullen first denied, and now has confirmed the memo? We are talking about facts here? As journalists, there is no need to defend Pakistan leadership by alluding to something as an allegation. All the echelons of the civilian government were involved in this.
The only way this is resolved is the ending of US-Pak ties, and the dissolution of the current Pakistani government, as well as a national trial. This is not to be ignored or brushed aside. This is serious. They were advocating a war upon the people of Pakistan.
Is is a fact now