AFGHANISTAN WILL WORK WITH INDIA ON POSITIONS AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 004033 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: PREL UNGA PTER PHUM CU AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN WILL WORK WITH INDIA ON POSITIONS AT NAM REF: STATE 145242 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for Reasons 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Reftel points asking for support for U.S. position on issues to be discussed at the upcoming NAM Summit were delivered during the Ambassador's September 5 meeting with ForMin Spanta. Spanta confirmed that he and Afghanistan's Ambassador to the U.S. Jawad will represent the GOA at the Summit. The Ambassador highlighted that, in the run-up to President Karzai's visit to Washington, it would be helpful to avoid gaps between the U.S. and Afghanistan's positions on the issues to be discussed: support for Guatemala's effort to gain a seat on the SC; an unambiguous definition of terrorism; support for democracy in all countries; and a moderate and balanced approach to the Middle East. ¶2. (C) Spanta responded that Afghanistan could be counted on to support Guatemala's bid and to oppose exclusions in a definition of terrorism. The ForMin commented that Afghanistan, like other countries, feels almost a "victim" of NAM membership. He volunteered that the GOA, as one of the group of NAM participants committed to supporting democratic principles, would be consulting closely with India in the lead-up to the Summit. NEUMANN