US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2604

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PK, IN, Kashmir 
SUBJECT: TERRORIST ATTACK ON SYMBOL OF KASHMIR BUS 
 
REF: A. NEW DELHI 061237Z 
     B. NEW DELHI 2270 
 
1.  This is an action request.  See para 3. 
 
2.  The April 6 fidayeen (suicide) attack in Srinagar (Ref A) 
was targeted at the most significant Indo-Pak CBM in years, 
the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus, which is scheduled to travel 
April 7 for the first time in 58 years between Indian and 
Pakistani Kashmir.  This is the latest in an escalating 
series of threats (Ref B) by terrorists seeking to prevent 
the bus, which enjoys massive popular support in J&K, from 
starting service.  Politicians from across the Kashmiri 
political spectrum have condemned the attack, and insisted 
that the bus must go on April 7. 
 
3.  We request that the Department Spokesman issue the 
strongest possible condemnation of this attack, and provide 
the following suggested language: 
 
Begin suggested press guidance: 
 
-- The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms 
the April 6 terrorist attack on the State Road Transport 
Corporation building and the Tourist Reception Center in 
Srinagar. 
 
-- This was a cynical attack on one of the most powerful 
symbols of rapproachement between India and Pakistan, the 
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, which is scheduled to begin 
service April 7 for the first time since 1947. 
 
-- We again applaud the leaders of India and Pakistan for 
their statesmanship in agreeing to this major step in mutual 
understanding. 
 
-- The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus has captured the 
imaginations of tens of thousands of Kashmiris on both sides 
of the Line of Control, and of Indians and Pakistanis more 
broadly, as a symbol of peace. 
 
-- The bus is a major humanitarian undertaking designed to 
enable family reunification and people-to-people contact 
between Kashmiris, as well as Indians and Pakistanis. 
Terrorist groups attempting to stop this bus from plying are 
on the wrong side of history and will find that their efforts 
will fail. 
 
-- We offer our condolences to those civilians wounded in the 
attack, and our strong support to the governments of India 
and Pakistan as they work to ensure that this dream becomes a 
reality. 
 
End suggested guidance. 
MULFORD