SUBJECT: UAE UPSET OVER PUBLICITY OF COOPERATION WITH U.S. MILITARY IN PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002158

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2015
TAGS: PTER, AF, PK, TC
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: UAE UPSET OVER PUBLICITY OF COOPERATION
WITH U.S. MILITARY IN PAKISTAN

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Ahmed Al Musally, Director of the Asian and African
Affairs Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
expressed his displeasure to the DCM on May 11th that some
details of the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. military in
Pakistan have become public. Specifically, he complained
that retired General Tommy Franks, former Commander of U.S.
Central Command, mentioned in his book, "American Soldier"
that U.S. forces had made use of Sheikh Zayed's private
airstrip in Balochistan, Pakistan. Al Musally said that this
"leak" was brought to his attention by the UAE Ambassador in
Pakistan, who sent him a 27 April article from the Pakistan
daily, "The Nation." The article criticizes the Pakistani
Government for keeping secrets, and it applauds General
Frank's openness in his book about the cooperation between
Pakistan, the U.S., and other allies.

2. (C) In his meeting with the DCM, Al Musally explained that
the UAEG desires to keep details of the UAE cooperation with
the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Pakistan confidential,
because the Government is concerned that public
acknowledgement of this assistance could pose risks to the
UAE security within the UAE or to UAE officials in Pakistan.
He noted that there are 500,000 to 600,000 Pakistanis
residing in the UAE and that members of the UAE's ruling
families frequently visit Pakistan for hunting. "Maybe they
can't do anything here, but they might try there (ie:
Pakistan),especially when our leaders travel there." (Note:
UAE Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of
the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, and Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed were in Pakistan last week for
bilateral meetings with Pakistani President Musharaf. End
note.)

3. (SBU) Ambassador met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi on May 14th and
assured him that the Embassy would relay the UAEG's concerns
regarding this matter to Washington.
SISON