Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a visiting United States official in 2009 that he “did not sleep well at night” knowing there were threats of more terror attacks in India after the 2008 Mumbai carnage.
In a June 2009 meeting with Under Secretary Bill Burns, the Prime Minister reiterated his readiness to meet Pakistan “more than halfway.” But, he added, talking peace while Pakistani territory was being used to plan terror attacks against India, would “look ridiculous.”
Detailing the meeting, a cable dated June 11, 2009 (211549: secret) from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said: “Singh asserted that India was willing to engage with Pakistan, but the Pakistan government had an obligation to stop the planning and launching of terror attacks from its territory.”
The meeting took place a few days after the U.S. had passed on “credible” reports to India that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was planning terror attacks in India to mark the release from house arrest in Pakistan of its leader Hafiz Saeed on June 2 (see ‘India Cables' series published by The Hindu: 209710: secret/noforn, dated June 2, 2009; 210144: secret/noforn, dated June 4, 2009; and 210051: secret/noforn).
Mr. Manmohan Singh told the U.S official that India saw the release of the LeT leader from detention in Pakistan as “a confusing signal.” There were some in Pakistan, he said, “who clearly regarded the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) as strategic assets.”
The Prime Minister observed that there was a “duality of thought processes” in Pakistan, particularly in its military.
He praised intelligence-sharing by the U.S. after the Mumbai attacks as a process that was benefiting India. But he noted that this information demonstrated that the threat of terror attacks after 26/11 Mumbai was far from over and ‘that he did not sleep well at night' knowing about these threats.
The Pakistan Cables are being shared by The Hindu with NDTV in India and Dawn in Pakistan.
Keywords: cable211549, cable209710, cable210144, cable210051, The Pakistan Cables, WikiLeaks, cablegate, terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
A brave and person of courage ensures that his police, army and intelligence agencies have taken all possible measurer to protect the country, and then sleep at ease in the satisfaction that he has done his best by the country. Besides, even when you are concerned about the possibility of acts of terrorism, it simply does not convey the right image of the country and its leader at the highest possible level. So, my observation would be,take all possible measures to protect the country and then concentrate on running the country. If you come out in the open in this manner, it only coneys a message of a weak of nation with a weak leader.
I think it was good and caring statement to the US official. Dr Singh is very humble, honest and a good thinktank. His reaction on any occasion doesnt indicate that hes weak or strong. Actions should speak and not the lips. Earlier PM's of india, whose has used their Lips have not done their bit for the country with their actions. We got great PM and we should accept this as a fact and support him instead of criticizing him. Dont forget he's not a politician and hes surrounded by politicians.Hats off to Mr Singh. Keep it up. We got some good decisions in your leadership like Nuclear treaty..Corruption has always been there under the leadership of every indian prime minister. But we should be positive in saying that we get every one caught under teh leadership of Mr Singh which has never happened in history.
I don't understand this simple thing that how can so many corruption scandals can flourish under a PM tagged as the most honest PM India will ever have? How can the troup under an honest leader be totally corrupt to the effect that the leader doesn't even know. That, the leader doesn't even react when the things are exposed. I don't know if the young generation would ever like to emulate honesty in this form which is nothing but lack of courage to speak and face the challenge head on. The knowledge on the paper counts for nothing if the actions are nill.
While Dr Singh seems to be a rare honest personality among a sea of corrupt opportunists around him, it became clear beyond doubt on more than one occasion that he is too weak to hold such powerful seat. In above cable, he shows his willingness for dialogue with Pakistan obviously because US is pushing for it, but he gives a ridiculous reason for his inability to do so. He says, it would "look ridiculous". It's absurd. Can't the government take a very firm stand about Pakistan? Can't we tell the US in their face that India has tried more than their share? Acts like 2008 Mumbai terror attack were so heinous that world would not have opposed to any firm reaction from India. War is not an answer, but India's weak reaction is one of the reasons that those terrorists are giving public speeches and Pakistan is treating them as heroes.
I concur with Ravi
I concur Ravi's statement. Courage is not hiding the worry but to display it in the open. India and Indians owe a great deal to this Great Man Dr.Singh.
That's why he is the greatest and most caring PM that india ever have.
Those who are leaders of the country, even if they cannot sleep at night because of their fear and insecurity, are not supposed to share it with a foreigner or with any for that matter. He has to display courage and strength rather than weakness.
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