KARZAI CONDOLENCE VISIT TO PAKISTAN OCTOBER 24

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 016005 SIPDIS KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015 TAGS: EAID ECON MASS PREL AF PK SUBJECT: KARZAI CONDOLENCE VISIT TO PAKISTAN OCTOBER 24 REF: ISLAMABAD 15862 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER. REASONS: 1.4(B)(D) ¶1. (C) Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a brief visit to Pakistan October 24 to express condolences and support for Pakistan in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake. Afghan Ambassador Tarzi told us that from his perspective, the visit went very well. Karzai first met with Musharraf who expressed his appreciation for helicopter support and a medical team from Afghanistan. Musharraf also said that Pakistan hoped to benefit from Afghanistan's expertise in managing a massive reconstruction effort with international assistance. The two leaders then discussed their remarkably similar and largely negative views of NGOs and their agenda, which Tarzi said may not have been overly helpful as Pakistan looks to international assistance but served to strengthen the personal rapport between the two. Karzai emphasized his visit was a show of solidarity and support, and he and Musharraf agreed that Karzai would return after the Eid holiday for broader-ranging discussions. ¶2. (C) Karzai subsequently saw Prime Minister Aziz who emphasized that a strong, stable Afghanistan was at the top of Pakistan's regional priorities. He stressed in particular the importance of the economic relationship, noting that when he had visited Kabul as finance minister and predicted bilateral trade at the $1 billion level, he had been greeted with considerable skepticism. Trade now exceeds $1.2 billion. When the discussion veered over into NGOs, Aziz provided something of an antidote noting that they could be an annoyance but also played a crucial role in mobilizing and sustaining international support. Tarzi said that Karzai and Aziz had a 30-minute one-on-one; he did not have a readout. ¶3. (C) Aziz accompanied Karzai back to the airport and joined him for a brief meeting with the Afghan helo crews and medical teams, with a huge gaggle of Pakistani media in tow. Tarzi said that Karzai had been especially appreciative of this gesture, and predicted it would have a very favorable impact in Afghanistan. ¶4. (C) Comment: This was a good gesture by Karzai, well received and reciprocated by the Pakistani leadership. It adds further momentum to our combined efforts to get this important relationship back on an even keel. CROCKER