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