PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: KARZAI TO MAKE CONDOLENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 015862 SIPDIS DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO USAID KABUL - PLEASE PASS TOP CFC-A E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 TAGS: PREL PK PGOV AF SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: KARZAI TO MAKE CONDOLENCE VISIT REF: ISLAMABAD 15769 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Patricia A. Butenis, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On October 21, the Afghan Embassy confirmed to post that AfghQsident Karzai plans to make a short condolence visit to Pakistan on Monday, October 24. According to Afghan Ambassador Tarzi, President Karzai will call on President Musharraff and PM Aziz, followed by a press event. The Pakistani MFA confirmed to post that a Karzai visit is in the works, but could not confirm the October 24 date. In addition to preparing for this brief half-day visit, the Afghan Embassy is waiting for the Goverment of Pakistan (GOP) to propose a date for a longer official visit by President Karzai after Ramadan. (Note: Ambassador Tarzi attributed the delay in fixing a date for this longer visit to the government's attention being focused on earthquake relief, rather than to any reluctance by the GOP to receive the Afghan delegation. End note.) ¶2. (C) Karzai would be the third head of state to visit Pakistan to offer condolences following the October 8 earthquake, following visits by King Abdullah of Jordan (October 16) and PM Erdogan of Turkey (October 20-21). ¶3. (C) Comment: If the October 24 meeting visit occurs, it will be the first Musharraf-Karzai meeting since President Karzai's visit to Islamabad in March 2005. Although personal relations between the two presidents have been strained since then, this visit is a sign that the atmosphere is continuing to warm following a Karzai-Musharraf telephone conversation earlier this month. CROCKER