SHIPMENT OF ALUMINUM ALLOW SHEETS AND RODS

S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 003575 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC PK SUBJECT: SHIPMENT OF ALUMINUM ALLOW SHEETS AND RODS REF: A. STATE 34756 ¶B. ABU DHABI 605 Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Reasons: 1.4 (b),(C) and (D). ¶1. (S) Ambassador delivered ref A talking points to Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan, who, in turn, discussed the issue with SIPDIS the Prime Minister. Based on this conversation, Khan subsequently informed the Ambassador that Pakistan was not in a position to touch the ship in Karachi. ¶2. (S) Khan explained that in the current domestic environment, seizing the shipment would inflame Pakistan's Shia population. (Iran would see to it.) Pakistan could not afford increased sectarian tension at this time. ¶3. (S) Ambassador underscored the importance of seizing the shipment as an indicator of Pakistan's commitment to non-proliferation and its willingness to work with us on Iran and on illegally obtained products. Khan said he understood and that Pakistan would understand anything the U.S. might do to intercept the shipment at sea, but that Pakistan could not take action itself in Pakistani waters. CROCKER