Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2798
2007-06-23 07:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
DEPUTY SECRETARY AND FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEW
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002798
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY AND FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEW
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE AND AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, Reason 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002798
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY AND FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEW
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE AND AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, Reason 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte,
Assistant Secretary Boucher, and Charge d,Affaires Bodde met
with Foreign Minister Kasuri on June 15. Both sides
expressed strong support for the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic
Dialogue. Kasuri noted that negative comments from the U.S.
media and Congress detracted from a positive relationship.
Kasuri said that the energy component of the Strategic
Dialogue should include discussions on nuclear energy options
for Pakistan. He also expressed support for economic
development in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
(FATA),noted confidence-building measures with Afghanistan,
and shared President Musharraf,s view that a precipitous
U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to chaos in the region.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a June 15 meeting, Deputy Secretary of State
John Negroponte, Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asia Richard Boucher, and Charge d,Affaires a.i.
Peter Bodde discussed U.S.-Pakistan relations with Foreign
Minister Khurshid Kasuri. Kasuri agreed to the Deputy
Secretary,s suggestion that the Strategic Dialogue between
SIPDIS
the two nations be resumed. The Deputy Secretary said he
could visit Pakistan sometime this fall for the next round of
the Dialogue.
3. (C) Kasuri complained that negative comments from the
U.S. media and Congress weakened the bilateral relationship.
He said the U.S. press did not highlight the significant
cooperation between the nations. Kasuri had instructed his
staff that they should schedule him with the media during his
upcoming visit to Washington D.C. in order to counter the
negative stories.
4. (C) Kasuri noted that negative comments were also common
in the U.S. Congress. He said that the language in some
legislation showed a suspicion of Pakistan,s actions and
motives that was &discouraging and disparaging8 to
Pakistan. Kasuri requested the Administration engage with
Congress on this issue. Kasuri said he would personally meet
with Members of Congress during his upcoming visit.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
5. (C) Noting the proposed nuclear deal between India and
the U.S., Kasuri wondered why Pakistan did not have a similar
arrangement. Kasuri cited power shortages in Karachi as an
argument that Pakistan needed further nuclear energy
capability. He suggested that an outside group be allowed to
establish reactors and maintain control of spent fuel to
assuage U.S. proliferation concerns. The Assistant Secretary
assured Kasuri that energy would be a part of the strategic
dialogue.
FATA AND AFGHANISTAN
6. (C) Responding to a question from the Deputy Secretary,
Kasuri highlighted the importance of economic development in
the FATA. Political and social development, Kasuri said,
cannot succeed until the region develops economically.
Kasuri noted Europeans were also looking at economic
development plans for FATA and the Northwest Frontier
Province. He added that, geographically and culturally, it
was more sensible to compare FATA progress with Afghanistan
than the rest of Pakistan.
7. (C) Kasuri stressed that Pakistanis who want economic and
social progress agree that the Taliban should not control
Afghanistan. On refugees, Kasuri asked for help from the
international community in repatriating returnees from
Pakistan. The refugee presence in Pakistan caused
instability, said Kasuri, whereas they could help the Afghan
economy if they returned. As in his earlier conversation
ISLAMABAD 00002798 002 OF 002
with the Assistant Secretary (reftel),Kasuri said that
Pakistan supported the cross-border jirga with Afghanistan
because the meeting could lead to increased cooperation, but
said that no third party should be included.
IRAQ
8. (C) Kasuri asked the Deputy Secretary his opinion on the
state of Iraq. According to Kasuri, President Musharraf
agreed that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would lead to chaos
in the region. He stressed, though, that the status quo
should not become comfortable for Iraqi leaders; they should
be forced to meet benchmarks.
The Deputy Secretary has reviewed this message.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: AF PGOV PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY AND FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEW
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE AND AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, Reason 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte,
Assistant Secretary Boucher, and Charge d,Affaires Bodde met
with Foreign Minister Kasuri on June 15. Both sides
expressed strong support for the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic
Dialogue. Kasuri noted that negative comments from the U.S.
media and Congress detracted from a positive relationship.
Kasuri said that the energy component of the Strategic
Dialogue should include discussions on nuclear energy options
for Pakistan. He also expressed support for economic
development in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
(FATA),noted confidence-building measures with Afghanistan,
and shared President Musharraf,s view that a precipitous
U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to chaos in the region.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a June 15 meeting, Deputy Secretary of State
John Negroponte, Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asia Richard Boucher, and Charge d,Affaires a.i.
Peter Bodde discussed U.S.-Pakistan relations with Foreign
Minister Khurshid Kasuri. Kasuri agreed to the Deputy
Secretary,s suggestion that the Strategic Dialogue between
SIPDIS
the two nations be resumed. The Deputy Secretary said he
could visit Pakistan sometime this fall for the next round of
the Dialogue.
3. (C) Kasuri complained that negative comments from the
U.S. media and Congress weakened the bilateral relationship.
He said the U.S. press did not highlight the significant
cooperation between the nations. Kasuri had instructed his
staff that they should schedule him with the media during his
upcoming visit to Washington D.C. in order to counter the
negative stories.
4. (C) Kasuri noted that negative comments were also common
in the U.S. Congress. He said that the language in some
legislation showed a suspicion of Pakistan,s actions and
motives that was &discouraging and disparaging8 to
Pakistan. Kasuri requested the Administration engage with
Congress on this issue. Kasuri said he would personally meet
with Members of Congress during his upcoming visit.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
5. (C) Noting the proposed nuclear deal between India and
the U.S., Kasuri wondered why Pakistan did not have a similar
arrangement. Kasuri cited power shortages in Karachi as an
argument that Pakistan needed further nuclear energy
capability. He suggested that an outside group be allowed to
establish reactors and maintain control of spent fuel to
assuage U.S. proliferation concerns. The Assistant Secretary
assured Kasuri that energy would be a part of the strategic
dialogue.
FATA AND AFGHANISTAN
6. (C) Responding to a question from the Deputy Secretary,
Kasuri highlighted the importance of economic development in
the FATA. Political and social development, Kasuri said,
cannot succeed until the region develops economically.
Kasuri noted Europeans were also looking at economic
development plans for FATA and the Northwest Frontier
Province. He added that, geographically and culturally, it
was more sensible to compare FATA progress with Afghanistan
than the rest of Pakistan.
7. (C) Kasuri stressed that Pakistanis who want economic and
social progress agree that the Taliban should not control
Afghanistan. On refugees, Kasuri asked for help from the
international community in repatriating returnees from
Pakistan. The refugee presence in Pakistan caused
instability, said Kasuri, whereas they could help the Afghan
economy if they returned. As in his earlier conversation
ISLAMABAD 00002798 002 OF 002
with the Assistant Secretary (reftel),Kasuri said that
Pakistan supported the cross-border jirga with Afghanistan
because the meeting could lead to increased cooperation, but
said that no third party should be included.
IRAQ
8. (C) Kasuri asked the Deputy Secretary his opinion on the
state of Iraq. According to Kasuri, President Musharraf
agreed that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would lead to chaos
in the region. He stressed, though, that the status quo
should not become comfortable for Iraqi leaders; they should
be forced to meet benchmarks.
The Deputy Secretary has reviewed this message.
BODDE