AFGHANISTAN'S INCLUSION INTO SAARC

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001789 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON XD CE SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S INCLUSION INTO SAARC REF: STATE 187206 (C) PDAS Camp and the Ambassador raised Afghan membership in SAARC with Foreign Secretary Palihakkara October 3, using the themes incorporated in reftel. Palihakkara said Sri Lanka supports Afghan membership but will let the "big SAARC players" decide and then support the SAARC consensus. We will continue to discuss the issue here as appropriate. ENTWISTLE