Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI1821
2008-07-01 13:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
QURESHI VISITS INDIA, LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001821
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN PK
SUBJECT: QURESHI VISITS INDIA, LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION
REF: A. NEW DELHI 01799
B. NEW DELHI 01763
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001821
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN PK
SUBJECT: QURESHI VISITS INDIA, LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION
REF: A. NEW DELHI 01799
B. NEW DELHI 01763
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, senior BJP leader
Jaswant Singh, former Prime Minister Vajpayee, and a few
state governors during his June 27-29 visit to India.
Pakistan Political Counselor S. Zulfiqar Gardezi told POLOFF
that the meeting provided no concrete results in the run up
to the fifth round of the Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue (CD)
scheduled for July 21-22. On June 28, during a joint press
conference, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee
and Qureshi announced joint planning initiatives for improved
people-to-people ties, including trade, business and
transportation services. They also expressed joint interest
in addressing peace and security in the bilateral
relationship, discussing the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline
(IPI),and moving forward on Kashmir issues, though neither
side presented specific details. These pressing political
issues, both ministers announced, would be addressed at the
secretary-level in July when both countries reconvene talks
at the CD. End Summary.
Range of Bilateral Issues Discussed
--------------
2. (SBU) Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood
Qureshi discussed bilateral issues with Indian officials
during his visit to India June 27-29. Indian Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) Deputy Secretary for Pakistan Affairs
G. Balasubramanian told POLOFF June 30 that Qureshi visited
New Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Chandigarh and Amritsar, and met
with Prime Minister Singh, L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh, former
Prime Minister Vajpayee, and a few state governors. As
reported in the Indian press, Balasubramanian mentioned that
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Qureshi
announced joint efforts to address impending political and
security issues -- including the on-going violence in Jammu
and Kashmir (Ref A),the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline (IPI),
and the regional terrorist threat -- reiterating democratic
systems of both countries. This was a routine visit in the
run up to Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir's visit
to New Delhi July 21-22 for the fifth round of the Indo-Pak
Composite Dialogue (CD),indicated Balasubramanian.
Qureshi Calls for "Result-Oriented" Talks
--------------
3. (SBU) Pakistan Political Counselor S. Zulfiqar Gardezi
on June 30 characterized the CD as four years of lagging
dialogue that has failed to address urgent political issues.
During a joint press conference with Mukherjee on June 28,
Qureshi called for result-oriented talks on a full range of
bilateral issues with India at the secretary-level CD in
July, Gardezi said. Qureshi requested that India join the
IPI gas project, as it would address the energy demand of
both countries. He mentioned that Siachen and Sir Creek
issues are "resolvable" and emphasized that both countries
should "seize the opportunity to resolve all outstanding
issues." When asked about security in the Northwest Frontier
region of Pakistan, Qureshi said the provincial capital city
of Peshawar was secure. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir,
Qureshi announced that "peace and security and normalization
is our mutual interest." Both ministers sought
confidence-building measures (CBMs) and underscored the
importance of maintaining the Line of Control. Joint working
groups would continue to review the planning and
implementation of systems in place. Discussions covered
other aspects of the bilateral relationship, including
economic and commercial cooperation, and promoting
people-to-people cross-border contact.
Comment: Goodwill Visit
--------------
NEW DELHI 00001821 002 OF 002
4. (C) As predicted by political observers, Qureshi did not
make substantial progress on urgent political and security
issues during his four-day visit to India. While failing to
reach concrete results on important issues, Qureshi's visit
was seen here as ostensibly a goodwill effort on part of the
new democratically elected Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led
government, which hopes to further consolidate its diplomatic
relationship with India. End Comment.
DAVISON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN PK
SUBJECT: QURESHI VISITS INDIA, LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION
REF: A. NEW DELHI 01799
B. NEW DELHI 01763
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah
Mahmood Qureshi met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, senior BJP leader
Jaswant Singh, former Prime Minister Vajpayee, and a few
state governors during his June 27-29 visit to India.
Pakistan Political Counselor S. Zulfiqar Gardezi told POLOFF
that the meeting provided no concrete results in the run up
to the fifth round of the Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue (CD)
scheduled for July 21-22. On June 28, during a joint press
conference, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee
and Qureshi announced joint planning initiatives for improved
people-to-people ties, including trade, business and
transportation services. They also expressed joint interest
in addressing peace and security in the bilateral
relationship, discussing the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline
(IPI),and moving forward on Kashmir issues, though neither
side presented specific details. These pressing political
issues, both ministers announced, would be addressed at the
secretary-level in July when both countries reconvene talks
at the CD. End Summary.
Range of Bilateral Issues Discussed
--------------
2. (SBU) Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood
Qureshi discussed bilateral issues with Indian officials
during his visit to India June 27-29. Indian Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) Deputy Secretary for Pakistan Affairs
G. Balasubramanian told POLOFF June 30 that Qureshi visited
New Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Chandigarh and Amritsar, and met
with Prime Minister Singh, L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh, former
Prime Minister Vajpayee, and a few state governors. As
reported in the Indian press, Balasubramanian mentioned that
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Qureshi
announced joint efforts to address impending political and
security issues -- including the on-going violence in Jammu
and Kashmir (Ref A),the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline (IPI),
and the regional terrorist threat -- reiterating democratic
systems of both countries. This was a routine visit in the
run up to Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir's visit
to New Delhi July 21-22 for the fifth round of the Indo-Pak
Composite Dialogue (CD),indicated Balasubramanian.
Qureshi Calls for "Result-Oriented" Talks
--------------
3. (SBU) Pakistan Political Counselor S. Zulfiqar Gardezi
on June 30 characterized the CD as four years of lagging
dialogue that has failed to address urgent political issues.
During a joint press conference with Mukherjee on June 28,
Qureshi called for result-oriented talks on a full range of
bilateral issues with India at the secretary-level CD in
July, Gardezi said. Qureshi requested that India join the
IPI gas project, as it would address the energy demand of
both countries. He mentioned that Siachen and Sir Creek
issues are "resolvable" and emphasized that both countries
should "seize the opportunity to resolve all outstanding
issues." When asked about security in the Northwest Frontier
region of Pakistan, Qureshi said the provincial capital city
of Peshawar was secure. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir,
Qureshi announced that "peace and security and normalization
is our mutual interest." Both ministers sought
confidence-building measures (CBMs) and underscored the
importance of maintaining the Line of Control. Joint working
groups would continue to review the planning and
implementation of systems in place. Discussions covered
other aspects of the bilateral relationship, including
economic and commercial cooperation, and promoting
people-to-people cross-border contact.
Comment: Goodwill Visit
--------------
NEW DELHI 00001821 002 OF 002
4. (C) As predicted by political observers, Qureshi did not
make substantial progress on urgent political and security
issues during his four-day visit to India. While failing to
reach concrete results on important issues, Qureshi's visit
was seen here as ostensibly a goodwill effort on part of the
new democratically elected Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led
government, which hopes to further consolidate its diplomatic
relationship with India. End Comment.
DAVISON