PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR DEDICATED TO IMPROVING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 005272 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PK AF SUBJECT: PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR DEDICATED TO IMPROVING RELATIONS Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Ambassador Neumann met with newly arrived Pakistan Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin in a December 28 courtesy call. Azizuddin is dedicated to improving relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and arrived with a mandate to attack all irritants in the bilateral relationship as they appear. The GOP wishes to avoid having the Afghan media play up bilateral friction that would inhibit the good relationship that Afghanistan and Pakistan must maintain. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Neumann asked about the possibilities for increasing trade between the two countries. Azizuddin agreed improving transit trade would be a major boon to the economies of both countries. He is planning on asking his government to consider an ambitious project proposal to provide a railroad transit link between the Port of Karachi and the Afghan city of Jalalabad, but is uncertain how Islamabad will react. (Note: Pakistan has already agreed to construct a USD 7.2 million rail line from Chaman to Spin Baldak on the border of Kandahar Province. End Note.) NEUMANN