AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD MEETS WITH NEW PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000826

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD MEETS WITH NEW PAKISTAN
PERMREP, DISCUSSES FACT-FINDING COMMISSION

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Incoming Pakistan Permanent Representative to the UN
Abdullah Hussain Haroon met September 10 with Ambassador
Khalilzad for a brief courtesy call. During the meeting
Haroon largely focused on Pakistan,s internal issues, and
spoke about trips he made to the tribal regions, especially
Swat. In his view, the problems there are largely economic,
and if sufficient focus could be given to infrastructure
development, the substantial local resources could be an
engine of progress and growth. Haroon is a Karachi-based
businessman with strong ties to the PPP. Dressed in a
well-tailored suit, Haroon gave off a worldly air, and
appeared more British than Pakistani. He was engaging and
personable, and fond of telling anecdotes, to the extent that
he turned to UN-related business only towards the end of the
meeting.


2. (C) Haroon expressed Pakistan,s willingness to cooperate
and coordinate, where possible, with the U.S. He urged
Ambassador Khalilzad to help move forward the
Secretary-General,s consideration of the UN's fact-finding
commission into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. A
decision to formally launch the commission would be very
useful for President Zardari to bring back from his first
official visit to the UN during the late September opening of
the General Assembly. In a later meeting with the
Secretary-General, Ambassador Khalilzad inquired about the
state of play of the commission. SYG Ban said he was
receiving conflicting advice from UN lawyers regarding the
necessity of involving the Security Council. The SYG added
that he had spoken with President Zardari, who asked the SYG
to announce the commission as a deliverable during Zardari's
upcoming visit to New York. USUN will follow up with the
UN's Office of Legal Affairs regarding the state of play.


3. (C) On Security Council reform, Haroon said Pakistan would
take advantage of its leading role within the UN to reach out
and build bridges with other delegations. COMMENT: Haroon
replaces Munir Akram, the veteran Pakistani PermRep who was
both well versed in the UN world and extremely influential.
Haroon, who has never served as a diplomat, will no doubt
have a challenging few months as he works to master the same
UN-specific knowledge and maintain the Pakistan Mission,s
influence in the UN. His pro-British affinities may be
problematic for Pakistan's unofficial leading role in the NAM
caucus in New York. END COMMENT.
Khalilzad