FM KASURI'S FEBRUARY 20-21 VISIT TO NEW DELHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001028 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2017 TAGS: IN MNUC PK PREL PTER SUBJECT: FM KASURI'S FEBRUARY 20-21 VISIT TO NEW DELHI Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a March 1 meeting with PolOff, MFA Director-General for South Asian Affairs Jalil Jilani provided a readout of Foreign Minister Kasuri's February 20-21 visit to New Delhi. Jilani previewed the upcoming March 6 anti-terror talks in Islamabad and described the nuclear accord signed during the Kasuri visit. Other topics reported septel Notal. End Summary. Pakistan preparing for anti-terror talks -------------- ¶2. (C) According to Jilani, Pakistan is preparing "seriously and sincerely" for the March 6 Indo/Pak anti-terror talks in Islamabad, the first such talks since the two governments agreed to an "anti-terror mechanism" in Havana in September last year. While the meetings will focus on "real-time intelligence sharing," the Pakistani Government will also solicit the Indians' take on confronting extremism in India. Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary of the Pak MFA's International Organization directorate, hopes the two sides can share best practices in cracking down on extremist and militant groups. Jilani pointed out that the media will likely be clamoring for information on whether the Indians share intelligence related to the Samjhauta train bombing, and noted that Kasuri thanked Mukherjee while in Delhi for the Indian Government's cautious public posture on the tragic event. Nuclear accord formalizes cooperation -------------- ¶3. (C) On the agreement signed to reduce risks of nuclear accidents between the two countries, Jilani said that both governments had for several months wanted to re-affirm their commitment to nuclear confidence-building in the current positive bilateral atmosphere. Jilani stated that the agreement formalized specific steps the two governments would take in the event of an accident involving their nuclear arsenals. The agreement shall remain in force for five yers and can be extended for another five years. CROCKER