Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD9336
2006-05-22 12:45:00
SECRET
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

NSA TARIQ AZIZ READY TO REACH OUT TO AFGHAN

Tags:  PGOV PK PREL AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2767
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #9336 1421245
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 221245Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9041
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 5316
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0999
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 8802
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 6659
S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 009336 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AF
SUBJECT: NSA TARIQ AZIZ READY TO REACH OUT TO AFGHAN
COUNTERPART

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 009336

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AF
SUBJECT: NSA TARIQ AZIZ READY TO REACH OUT TO AFGHAN
COUNTERPART

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) During a May 22 conversation, National Security
Advisor Tariq Aziz told Ambassador that Pakistan's senior
leaders are increasingly concerned by both the security
situation in Afghanistan and by public accusations by
Afghanistan President Karzai and Foreign Minister Spanta
blaming Pakistan for the surge in Taliban attacks on Afghan
and Coalition forces. Presidential Chief of Staff LTG Hamid
Javaid and Aziz have counseled an irritated President
Musharraf to exercise restraint, to avoid yet another spiral
of unhelpful cross-border rhetoric.


2. (S) According to Aziz, the Government of Pakistan (GOP)
fully appreciates that the situation on the ground is
serious, hence President Musharraf's active engagement on
Pakistan's three-tiered FATA strategy. Aziz confirmed that
former 11th Corps Commander LTG (ret) Ali Muhammad Jan
Orakzai will replace Khalid ur-Rehman as Governor in the
North West Frontier Province (NWFP),and that the President
is serious about installing new, stronger Political Agents to
implement political reforms and engage the tribes on economic
and social development. The Taliban pose the same threat on
both sides of the border, Aziz noted, saying that Kabul and
Islamabad should cooperate on confronting this common danger.


3. (S) The Ambassador suggested that Aziz call Afghan NSA
Zalimay Rasool to invite him to Islamabad to brief him on the
GOP's FATA strategy and explore coordinated Pak-Afghan
action. Aziz replied that he had considered such a step, but
was concerned that, in the current atmosphere, there was too
great a chance that President Karzai would prohibit Rasool
from accepting Aziz' invitation -- a scenario best avoided,
as a rejected invitation would enrage President Musharraf.
After the Ambassdor pointed out that it should not be too
difficult to manage a phone conversation that avoided such an
outcome, Aziz telephoned Afghan Ambassador Tarzi and asked
him to set up a telephone consultation with Rasool. When
Tarzi responded that Rasool was with President Karzai in
Dubai, Aziz asked that a call be arranged after Rasool's
return to Kabul on May 23.


4. (S) Comment: The steady barrage cross-border criticism
targeted at Islamabad the past two weeks neither helps the
GOP stabilize the FATA or execute the security operations
necessary to deny anti-Coalition militias safe haven along
the Pak-Afghan border. Post believes that the sooner Aziz
and Rasool can speak to each other directly, the sooner the
two governments can direct their energies toward their common
enemy. Facilitating an Aziz-Rasool telephone call is a first
step -- and if Aziz extends an invitation for face-to-face
consultations, we hope that Embassy Kabul will encourage
Rasool to accept.
CROCKER