Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD5381
2006-03-31 02:48:00
SECRET
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
AFGHAN AMBASSADOR SAYS PAK-AFGHAN ATMOSPHERICS ARE
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S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 005381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL - PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR SAYS PAK-AFGHAN ATMOSPHERICS ARE
IMPROVING
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 005381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL - PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR SAYS PAK-AFGHAN ATMOSPHERICS ARE
IMPROVING
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In a March 29 conversation, Afghan Ambassador Tarzi
told Ambassador that he feels that the atmosphere between
Islamabad and Kabul is clearing. On the eve of his return to
Kabul for consultations, Tarzi said that he sensed that the
GOP is eager to put aside the heated public rhetoric that
followed President Karzai's February visit to Islamabad. His
government is also ready to move on, Tarzi said, noting that
he is already making arrangements to convene the Pak-Afghan
Joint Economic Commission (JEC),perhaps as early as 26-27
April. He sees the JEC as an opportunity for an early
high-level visit between the governments, a goal the
Pakistani MFA shares. What is important, Tarzi said, is that
the visit is high-level and high-visibility. Tarzi even had
praise for the GOP's prompt reaction when the Afghan
Consulate in Quetta was threatened by a mob protesting the
execution-style deaths of 17 Pakistani nationals, whose
bodies were discovered near Spin Boldak on the Afghan side of
the border. The police who responded protected the facility,
while an unknown speaker addressed the crowd to urge calm,
calling for good relations between the neighboring countries.
2. (S) Ambassador Crocker agreed that the atmosphere has
improved, saying that despite the publicity surrounding the
Spin Boldak incident, the GOP has been restrained in its
reaction. He also cited ISI Director General Kayani's March
29 discussions on intelligence sharing with his Afghan
counterparts as a positive development. The Ambassador also
praised President Karzai's decision to commit an Afghan
National Army (ANA) unit to participate in the joint
U.S.-Pakistani military exercise "Inspired Gambit" in North
West Frontier Province in May.
3. (C) Tarzi said that, even during the height of the
bilateral tensions, he had been able to conduct the Embassy's
business as usual with no hostility from his Pakistani
contacts. Now, he continued, many are going out of their way
to demonstrate their interest in Afghanistan. Vice Army
Chief of Staff GEN Ahsan has gone out of his way to show that
there is no ill will, Tarzi said, inviting Afghan GEN
Bismullah Khan to attend his son's wedding and planning
festivities in Bismullah Khan's honor at the April 19
Tripartite Commission plenary in Islamabad. Former ISI Chief
Azad Durrani has expressed an interest in visiting Kabul in
the near future.
4. (S) Tarzi also told Ambassador Crocker that he believes
that he had sorted through the confusion surrounding an
Afghan Ministry of Defense paper that had been wrongly billed
to the GOP as Afghanistan's National Security Strategy (NSS).
(Note: President Musharraf expressed his irritation at the
allegedly revanchist tone of this MOD paper to GEN Abizaid
during their March 6 meeting. End note.) The Government of
Afghanistan (GOA) is working on a NSS, Tarzi said, but under
the auspices of the National Security Advisor's office. The
MOD paper that had been passed to the GOP was a preliminary
draft written for other purposes that has no/no official
standing. Ambassador thanked Tarzi for the explanation, and
urged him to convey the same message to senior GOP officials.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL - PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR SAYS PAK-AFGHAN ATMOSPHERICS ARE
IMPROVING
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In a March 29 conversation, Afghan Ambassador Tarzi
told Ambassador that he feels that the atmosphere between
Islamabad and Kabul is clearing. On the eve of his return to
Kabul for consultations, Tarzi said that he sensed that the
GOP is eager to put aside the heated public rhetoric that
followed President Karzai's February visit to Islamabad. His
government is also ready to move on, Tarzi said, noting that
he is already making arrangements to convene the Pak-Afghan
Joint Economic Commission (JEC),perhaps as early as 26-27
April. He sees the JEC as an opportunity for an early
high-level visit between the governments, a goal the
Pakistani MFA shares. What is important, Tarzi said, is that
the visit is high-level and high-visibility. Tarzi even had
praise for the GOP's prompt reaction when the Afghan
Consulate in Quetta was threatened by a mob protesting the
execution-style deaths of 17 Pakistani nationals, whose
bodies were discovered near Spin Boldak on the Afghan side of
the border. The police who responded protected the facility,
while an unknown speaker addressed the crowd to urge calm,
calling for good relations between the neighboring countries.
2. (S) Ambassador Crocker agreed that the atmosphere has
improved, saying that despite the publicity surrounding the
Spin Boldak incident, the GOP has been restrained in its
reaction. He also cited ISI Director General Kayani's March
29 discussions on intelligence sharing with his Afghan
counterparts as a positive development. The Ambassador also
praised President Karzai's decision to commit an Afghan
National Army (ANA) unit to participate in the joint
U.S.-Pakistani military exercise "Inspired Gambit" in North
West Frontier Province in May.
3. (C) Tarzi said that, even during the height of the
bilateral tensions, he had been able to conduct the Embassy's
business as usual with no hostility from his Pakistani
contacts. Now, he continued, many are going out of their way
to demonstrate their interest in Afghanistan. Vice Army
Chief of Staff GEN Ahsan has gone out of his way to show that
there is no ill will, Tarzi said, inviting Afghan GEN
Bismullah Khan to attend his son's wedding and planning
festivities in Bismullah Khan's honor at the April 19
Tripartite Commission plenary in Islamabad. Former ISI Chief
Azad Durrani has expressed an interest in visiting Kabul in
the near future.
4. (S) Tarzi also told Ambassador Crocker that he believes
that he had sorted through the confusion surrounding an
Afghan Ministry of Defense paper that had been wrongly billed
to the GOP as Afghanistan's National Security Strategy (NSS).
(Note: President Musharraf expressed his irritation at the
allegedly revanchist tone of this MOD paper to GEN Abizaid
during their March 6 meeting. End note.) The Government of
Afghanistan (GOA) is working on a NSS, Tarzi said, but under
the auspices of the National Security Advisor's office. The
MOD paper that had been passed to the GOP was a preliminary
draft written for other purposes that has no/no official
standing. Ambassador thanked Tarzi for the explanation, and
urged him to convey the same message to senior GOP officials.
CROCKER