America was concerned about Pakistans direct opposition to US policies at UN: WikiLeaks

Karachi, US officials expressed grave reservations over Pakistans positions at the United Nations that were in direct opposition to US policies, a diplomatic cable unveiled by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has revealed.

According to a June 2006 cable written by former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton- considered a hardliner, Pakistan was one of a handful of countriesthat routinely oppose the United States in multilateral debates despite strong bilateral ties to the US.

While much of its behaviour in New York may reflect Pakistans rivalry with Indiathe positions Pakistan adopts to curry favour with other member states often put it in direct opposition to US policies, wrote Bolton.

A statistical analysis of Pakistans voting record at the UNGA [UN General Assembly] illustrates this point. Pakistans voting correlation with the US has been on a downward trend since 1996 and reached a record low of 17.4 percent last year, he added.

Bolton reserved special censure in the secret cable for Munir Akram, Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN, saying that he personified Pakistans cultivation of a false image of constructive engagement among other delegations in New Yorkeven while working to block key US priorities.

Critical of Pakistans opposition to US positions on counterterrorism, Bolton stated that Pakistan, which undoubtedly sees counterterrorism at the UN through the prism of Kashmirhas long been a leader among the OIC in opposing US CT [counter-terrorism] positions through indirect criticism of US policies.

Bolton also noted that by arguing that attacks perpetrated by peoples living under foreign occupation are not terrorism, Pakistan has joined Egypt, Venezuela and other NAM states in emphasizing the need to confront the root causes of terrorism.

The cable, published by the Dawn, also referred to a UN session, during which a Pakistani dele! gate arg ued that militaries engaging in foreign occupation often carry out wanton violence against innocent civilians and other non-combatants.

Moreover, Bolton referred to Pakistans attempts to persuade the UNs Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the General Assembly to adopt positions on development, trade, and social issues at odds with the interests of the US and other like-minded nations.