GLOBAL PEACE OPERATIONS INITIATIVE: PAKISTAN'S

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 022317 SIPDIS SIPDIS PM/PPA - RFEATHERSTONE SCA/RA - FMILLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO MARR MASS PK SUBJECT: GLOBAL PEACE OPERATIONS INITIATIVE: PAKISTAN'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE REF: A. ISLAMABAD 22237 ¶B. STATE 169199 ¶1. This cable contains an action request -- please see para 3. ¶2. On December 4, MFA Director (UN I) Haider Shah delivered to POLOFF the Government of Pakistan's written response to the U.S. proposal for Pakistan to participate in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) (ref B). Pakistan wants to proceed with GPOI and awaits further implementation details from the U.S. This non-paper response tracks with Shah's earlier comments regarding the GOP's stance on GPOI (ref A). ¶3. Action Request: Post requests Department's guidance soonest on the next steps for Pakistan's involvement in GPOI. ¶4. Text of Pakistan's non-paper follows. BEGIN TEXT -- Pakistan supports in principle the US Global Peace Operations initiative (GPOI) 2007-07. However, Pakistan would like to reiterate that the deployment of Pakistan's troops/contingents for peace support missions is the sovereign decision of Pakistan under UN mandate and with the consent of the host country. -- Such deployments are only for peace keeping operations and not for peace enforcement missions. -- Decisions regarding deployment of Pakistani troops/contingents are taken on a case by case basis based on the above principles. -- Pakistan would also like to have US support for the establishment of a regional peace keeping centre and related facilities in Pakistan either in the context of US Global Peace Operations initiative or other bilaterally agreed arrangements with the United States. -- Pakistan looks forward to working out the details regarding participation in GPOI. END TEXT. CROCKER