AK MP TRAVELS TO PAKISTAN TO SOLICT GOP ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007093 SIPDIS NSC FOR ZKHALILZAD, RBLACKWILL, LROSSIN, AHARRIMAN, SPATEL. DEPT FOR EUR/SE, SA/PAB, S/CT, SA/A E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS TU AF PGOV PTER PINS SUBJECT: AK MP TRAVELS TO PAKISTAN TO SOLICT GOP ASSISTANCE IN SECURING RELEASE OF TURKISH NATIONAL KIDNAPPED BY TALIBAN; CARRIES MESSAGE FROM PM ERDOGAN REF: A. A) ANKARA 6967 B) KABUL 3039 C) KABUL 3026 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. D) ANKARA 6846 (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D). ¶1. (C) AK MP Mahmut Kocak told pol counselor November 12 that he would lead a delegation to Pakistan November 13 to solicit the GOP's assistance in securing the release of Turkish national Hassan Ornal, who is being held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban. Kocak said the plan is to use the governor's office in Ghazni province in Afghanistan and governor Sadullah's good offices to establish contact with the captors, invite their representatives into Pakistan for negotiations, give them a message from PM Erdogan asking for Ornal's release, and obtain Ornal's release within three days. Kocak said he understands the US would object to any deal leading to the release of imprisoned Taliban. He asked the US to weigh in with the Pakistani foreign minister and through Kabul with Governor Sadullah to help obtain Ornal's release. ¶2. (C) Kocak said that PM Erdogan believes that bringing home a freed Turkish captive would redound immensely to AK's credit at a time when status quo elements in Turkey are attempting to grind the party and the GOT down. Kocak also sees a successful mission as the way to gain him a cabinet seat in what is likely to be Erdogan's shuffle of half a dozen portfolios in a month or two. ¶3. (C) MFA DDG for South Asian Affairs Aydin Evirgen (who said he did not know about the mission until hours before the delegation was to depart Ankara) separately confirmed that Kocak would travel to Pakistan and that he would be carrying a message from Erdogan. Evirgen said Kocak also intends to seek a meeting with Pakistani Ministry of Interior officials. Evirgen described the mission as "private effort" while adding that it had the PM's blessing and was part of the GOT's overall efforts to secure Ornal's release via peaceful means. ¶4. (U) Dushanbe and Peshawar minimize considered. EDELMAN