MEETING OF FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN'S CO-CHAIRS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 110863

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: MEETING OF FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN'S CO-CHAIRS IN
ISLAMABAD

REF: A. STATE 100210

B. PARTO 18

Classified By: Acting A/S Don Camp for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action cable. See paragraph 4. Info
addressees FYI only; do not discuss with host country at this
time.


2. (C) Background. The Friends of Pakistan, a group
organized to work with the Government of Pakistan on its
security and development challenges, met for the first time
in New York on September 26. Members agreed to hold a
follow-up meeting in Abu Dhabi at some point in the near
future, probably in early November. South and Central Asia
Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher plans to meet with the
other four co-chairs (U.K, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates,
and Saudi Arabia) in Islamabad on either October 19 or 20,
primarily to discuss organizational issues for the Abu Dhabi
meeting. Topics to be discussed could include the scope of
membership, type of decision making model, the formation of a
secretariat, future schedule of meetings, and possible themes
for the next meeting. The U.S. hopes to see the following
themes included on the agenda for the Abu Dhabi meeting:
economic development along Pakistan's western border (FATA,
NWFP, Baluchistan),security in the tribal areas, and

Pakistan's energy situation. One potential deliverable would
be the creation of a Frontier Trust Fund to be administered
by the World Bank. Preconditions for such a Trust Fund would
be that the Government of Pakistan approach the World Bank to
ask that they administer the Fund and to demonstrate country
ownership for the Fund, as well as appoint a high-level GOP
point of contact, who has a proven track record, to oversee
the Fund.


3. (SBU) After the meeting in Islamabad, a broader demarche
cable will be sent to all Friends' member countries
reflecting the decisions of that meeting.


4. (SBU) For London, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and, as appropriate,
Islamabad: Please contact host country Ministry of Foreign
Affairs at the appropriate level to inform them of the
meeting in Islamabad, and ask that they reinforce the
importance of this meeting with their Ambassadors in Pakistan.

Talking Points:


5. (C) Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher will be in
Islamabad October 19-20 and has asked to meet with
Ambassadors of the other co-chair countries of the Friends of
Pakistan. The purpose of the meeting will be to make
preparations for the next plenary session of the Friends,
which is being planned for early November in Abu Dhabi (note:
the exact date has not yet been finalized. end note). We
ask that you convey to your Ambassadors in Islamabad the
importance of this meeting in setting the framework for the
Group.


6. (C) The meeting will primarily focus on organizational
issues, such as membership, decision-making, future meeting
schedules, and the formation of a secretariat. We believe
that it is important to retain the flexibility offered by a
fairly limited group, while not excluding those who wish to
be of help to Pakistan. The U.N. has offered to provide
assistance to the Group; the co-chairs will discuss the
modalities of this assistance.


7. (C) Possible agenda topics for the Abu Dhabi meeting
could include: economic development in the border areas, to
include discussion of a Frontier Trust Fund (to be
administered by the World Bank) and the appointment of a
high-level Government of Pakistan official with a proven
track record to oversee the Fund; security in the tribal
areas; and Pakistan's energy situation.
RICE