Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USNATO71
2007-02-06 12:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
PAKISTANI PM AZIZ DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, MIL-MIL
how-toVZCZCXRO9241 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNO #0071/01 0371203 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061203Z FEB 07 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0269 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0448 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0020 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0174 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0019 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0087 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0198 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0498 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0017 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0003 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0016
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000071
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL MARR PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI PM AZIZ DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, MIL-MIL
TIES WITH NATO SYG JANUARY 30
REF: NATO 0062
USNATO 00000071 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000071
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL MARR PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI PM AZIZ DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, MIL-MIL
TIES WITH NATO SYG JANUARY 30
REF: NATO 0062
USNATO 00000071 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (SBU) NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
distributed to Allies a report on his discussions with
Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz on January 30 preceding Aziz's
meeting with the NAC (REFTEL).
2. (C) Text of SYG's Report SG(2007)0095 follows. Note
internal numbering. Begin text:
(1) I met the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz for
a short bilateral call prior to the meeting with the North
Atlantic Council. He presented his views in an open and
frank fashion and covered the same points as during his
address to the Council.
(2) The Prime Minister articulated his view for a
"progressive, democratic, vibrant and Muslim Pakistan seen as
an anchor of stability in South Asia", a country which should
therefore be seen as a partner of the international community
in the region.
(3) Regarding Afghanistan, he referred to his recent meeting
with President Karzai and regretted public finger-pointing as
unfair. He noted that Pakistan had to deal with a 2,640 KM
porous border and 3 million Afghan refugees being sheltered
in Pakistan. He had personally taken a number of measures
starting with the deployment of more than 80,000 troops to
guard the border and the introduction of new measures
including biometric IDs to monitor cross border movements.
He also insisted on the need to develop a more coherent
strategy to build up Afghanistan. He noted that his country,
as a traditionally non-aid giving country, had however
invested in different development programmes.
(4) On Afghanistan I briefed my interlocutor on the recent
Ministerial Meeting recalling NATO's clear commitment towards
Afghanistan. A concerted effort of the international
community, the UN and the EU was needed to win the hearts and
minds of the Afghans on the ground, highlighting that a sole
military response would not be sufficient. I also thanked
the Pakistani government for its efforts to stem cross border
activities, and stressed that a joint and a combined effort
of NATO, the Afghan National Army as well as the Pakistani
authorities was required to successfully address the problem.
(5) In PM's view, Pakistan could not be accused of playing a
double game vis--vis Afghanistan, as it had all to gain from
having a stable neighbour, pointing among other things to the
severe casualties suffered by the Pakistani Army, the drug
trafficking and the terrorist activities which could in turn
destabilise his own country as demonstrated by the numerous
terrorist attacks perpetrated in Pakistan.
(6) He stated that public accusations in the media had been
largely counterproductive and I agreed that we should all
refrain from commenting publicly on operational issues.
Commenting on the situation in Quetta, he was of the view
that it was difficult to control some 600,000 refugees and
recognised that the camps there, as well as around Peshawar
were breeding grounds for terrorist movements. He was well
aware of the situation which was one of the main reasons for
the appointment of a new Police Chief of the Provincial
district. He also advocated for a coordinated approach to
promote the return of refugees. I echoed his point insisting
on greater involvement of the UNHCR.
(7) The Prime Minister viewed drug production as an intrinsic
feature of insecurity and as the major source for terrorist
funding. Taking example of his own country's experience, he
invited the IC to take drastic measures. I recognised the
importance of the problem but insisted that the Afghan
authorities were in the driving seat.
(8) Finally, regarding NATO-Pakistan cooperation, the Prime
Minister explained that Pakistan was grateful for the NATO
contribution to the relief operation which was "now viewed as
USNATO 00000071 002.2 OF 002
one of the most successful operations." He announced that
his country was ready to conclude the agreement with NATO on
the Lines of Communication. He was also grateful regarding
the enhanced mil-to-mil cooperation and the Tripartite
Commission and he conveyed the Chief of Defence Staff's
gratitude for NATO's opening of various courses.
(9) I welcomed the establishment of close mil-to-mil
relations through the ISAF liaison arrangements in Islamabad
and the Tripartite Commission. I stressed that enhanced
mil-to-mil exchanges needed to be matched with enhanced
political dialogue. I also thanked for his announcement
regarding the completion of the transit agreement. He
invited me to visit Pakistan and I accepted this invitation.
3. (U) End text.
NULAND
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL MARR PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI PM AZIZ DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, MIL-MIL
TIES WITH NATO SYG JANUARY 30
REF: NATO 0062
USNATO 00000071 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (SBU) NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
distributed to Allies a report on his discussions with
Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz on January 30 preceding Aziz's
meeting with the NAC (REFTEL).
2. (C) Text of SYG's Report SG(2007)0095 follows. Note
internal numbering. Begin text:
(1) I met the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz for
a short bilateral call prior to the meeting with the North
Atlantic Council. He presented his views in an open and
frank fashion and covered the same points as during his
address to the Council.
(2) The Prime Minister articulated his view for a
"progressive, democratic, vibrant and Muslim Pakistan seen as
an anchor of stability in South Asia", a country which should
therefore be seen as a partner of the international community
in the region.
(3) Regarding Afghanistan, he referred to his recent meeting
with President Karzai and regretted public finger-pointing as
unfair. He noted that Pakistan had to deal with a 2,640 KM
porous border and 3 million Afghan refugees being sheltered
in Pakistan. He had personally taken a number of measures
starting with the deployment of more than 80,000 troops to
guard the border and the introduction of new measures
including biometric IDs to monitor cross border movements.
He also insisted on the need to develop a more coherent
strategy to build up Afghanistan. He noted that his country,
as a traditionally non-aid giving country, had however
invested in different development programmes.
(4) On Afghanistan I briefed my interlocutor on the recent
Ministerial Meeting recalling NATO's clear commitment towards
Afghanistan. A concerted effort of the international
community, the UN and the EU was needed to win the hearts and
minds of the Afghans on the ground, highlighting that a sole
military response would not be sufficient. I also thanked
the Pakistani government for its efforts to stem cross border
activities, and stressed that a joint and a combined effort
of NATO, the Afghan National Army as well as the Pakistani
authorities was required to successfully address the problem.
(5) In PM's view, Pakistan could not be accused of playing a
double game vis--vis Afghanistan, as it had all to gain from
having a stable neighbour, pointing among other things to the
severe casualties suffered by the Pakistani Army, the drug
trafficking and the terrorist activities which could in turn
destabilise his own country as demonstrated by the numerous
terrorist attacks perpetrated in Pakistan.
(6) He stated that public accusations in the media had been
largely counterproductive and I agreed that we should all
refrain from commenting publicly on operational issues.
Commenting on the situation in Quetta, he was of the view
that it was difficult to control some 600,000 refugees and
recognised that the camps there, as well as around Peshawar
were breeding grounds for terrorist movements. He was well
aware of the situation which was one of the main reasons for
the appointment of a new Police Chief of the Provincial
district. He also advocated for a coordinated approach to
promote the return of refugees. I echoed his point insisting
on greater involvement of the UNHCR.
(7) The Prime Minister viewed drug production as an intrinsic
feature of insecurity and as the major source for terrorist
funding. Taking example of his own country's experience, he
invited the IC to take drastic measures. I recognised the
importance of the problem but insisted that the Afghan
authorities were in the driving seat.
(8) Finally, regarding NATO-Pakistan cooperation, the Prime
Minister explained that Pakistan was grateful for the NATO
contribution to the relief operation which was "now viewed as
USNATO 00000071 002.2 OF 002
one of the most successful operations." He announced that
his country was ready to conclude the agreement with NATO on
the Lines of Communication. He was also grateful regarding
the enhanced mil-to-mil cooperation and the Tripartite
Commission and he conveyed the Chief of Defence Staff's
gratitude for NATO's opening of various courses.
(9) I welcomed the establishment of close mil-to-mil
relations through the ISAF liaison arrangements in Islamabad
and the Tripartite Commission. I stressed that enhanced
mil-to-mil exchanges needed to be matched with enhanced
political dialogue. I also thanked for his announcement
regarding the completion of the transit agreement. He
invited me to visit Pakistan and I accepted this invitation.
3. (U) End text.
NULAND