AFGAN-PAKISTAN-TURKEY MEETING - GOOD SPIRIT, SHORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002933 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR MCGRAW CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: AFGAN-PAKISTAN-TURKEY MEETING - GOOD SPIRIT, SHORT ON SUBSTANCE; DOSTUM HEADING TO TURKEY - MAYBE REF: KABUL 2856 Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On 11/3, the Ambassador called separately on Presidential Chief of Staff Mohammad Daudzai and NSA Zalmay Rassoul. The 10/31 Karzai-PM Gailani-President Gul trilateral and the Karzai-Gailani bilateral were long on positive atmosphere, and short on substance. Gailani told Karzai that Pakistan wishes to reconcile with India. Afghanistan turned down a Pakistan proposal for an Afghan- Pakistan-Iran trilateral. Uzbek warlord Dostum has agreed to throw his electoral support to Karzai in return for Karzai,s lifting his house arrest. Dostum told Daudzai he planned to go soon and stay in Turkey for an extended period. -------------- Turkey tripartite meeting: Little substance -------------- ¶2. (C) Both Daudzai and Rassoul said the atmosphere was positive at the 10/31 Karzai-PM Gailani-President Gul trilateral and the Karzai-Gailani bilateral meetings. The Afghans acknowledged there was little substantive outcome, but welcomed the meetings as another step contributing to improved RELATIONS between Afghan and Pakistan civilian authorities. ¶3. (C) The governments plan the next session to be a trilateral at the presidential level, and are considering 11/28 or 12/5 as possible dates. The Afghans will propose that the parties expand the agenda beyond POLITICAL and security items to include bilateral trade and economic development issues. -------------- India-yes, Iran-no -------------- ¶4. (C) Daudzai and Rassoul each remarked on the significance of Gailani,s admission to Karzai that Pakistan wished to improve ties with India. &We cannot continue like this.8 Daudzai characterized Gailani as having &genuine intent.8 Rassoul said President Zardari had made similar remarks on India to PRC officials during his recent Beijing visit. Neither official had further information on how Pakistan intended to proceed. ¶5. (C) The Afghans turned down a Pakistani proposal for an Afghan-Pakistan-Iran trilateral. This was the second time Pakistan had proposed such a meeting, and the second time Afghanistan had rejected it. -------------- -------------- Dostum: Palace reconciliation, possible exile to Turkey -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Daudzai explained the most recent developments regarding Uzbek warlord Dostum. During his house arrest, Dostum had made a number of entreaties to Daudzai seeking Karzai,s agreement to remove Dostum,s travel restrictions. After some consideration, Karzai called a meeting of Dostum and Akhbar Bai. The two agreed then to reconcile. Karzai lifted Dostum,s travel restrictions, but the criminal case against Dostum remains open. ¶7. (C) Dostum then met privately with Daudzai and professed that he was tired, had learned his lesson, and was a changed man. Dostum pledged to support Karzai,s presidential run, and not to run himself. Dostum was also willing to accept Turkey,s offer to go there to seek medical treatment. He would also be willing to stay away for a long time, if that was what Karzai wanted. Daudzai said the Palace would indeed ask Dostum to go to Turkey soon, and to stay there for some time. Daudzai shared the Ambassador,s skepticism of Dostum,s new found self-discovery, but believed Dostum would honor his pledge to throw his POLITICAL support to Karzai and to leave the country. WOOD