Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISLAMABAD16005
2005-10-25 01:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

KARZAI CONDOLENCE VISIT TO PAKISTAN OCTOBER 24

Tags:  EAID ECON MASS PREL AF PK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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)

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