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