PAKISTAN UN PERMREP ON SANCTIONS ENFORCEMENT

S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000128 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017 TAGS: ETTC EFIN UNSC PREL PTER KTFN PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN UN PERMREP ON SANCTIONS ENFORCEMENT REF: A. USUN 115 ¶B. 2006 ISLAMABAD 22000 ¶C. 2006 ISLAMABAD 22174 Classified By: Acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, for Reasons 1.4 (B and D) ¶1. (S) Although initially critical of U.S. efforts to raise in New York the issue of Pakistan's apparent lack of compliance with UNSCR 1267 (al-Qaida/Taliban),following Ambassador Wolff's intervention (ref A),Pakistani PermRep Akram reported that he had advised Islamabad to "take steps" to address U.S. concerns in order to forestall additional action in New York by the 1267 Sanctions Committee. ¶2. (S) In a meeting February 12, Akram told Ambassador Wolff that the Pakistani Interagency convened approximately 10 days ago to discuss sanctions enforcement against Al Rashid Trust and Al Akhtar Trust, but the discussion was inconclusive. Akram advised Ambassador Wolff that following their February 8 discussion, he sent a cable to Islamabad, which he said would be read by President Musharraf and the ISI. Without going into specifics, Akram told Ambassador Wolff that he indicated in the cable a "need to take steps." Akram was unsure if all his recommendations would be adopted by Islamabad, but he told Ambassador Wolff that he expects a response from capital before February 23. (NOTE: Akram thought the next Committee meeting was scheduled for February ¶23. The Committee's next meeting is actually February 26. END NOTE.) ¶3. (S) Akram noted that the Al Rashid/Al Akhtar issue is sensitive in Pakistan. During this "delicate time" for U.S.-Pakistani relations, Akram argued, nothing should be done to "tip the balance" one way or the other. He also argued that the Committee should take into account the social and political aspects of the two sanctioned groups. Ambassador Wolff rejoined that the assets freeze provision of the sanctions regime is clear-cut and full compliance is necessary. Ambassador Wolff said that USUN would delay the 1267 Committee's discussion of Pakistani non-compliance until February 26 to allow Akram to receive a response from Islamabad, but the Ambassador stressed that we must get an answer. WOLFF