Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI270
2009-03-18 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE THOUGHTS ON AFGHAN POLICY REVIEW
how-toP 181353Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2262 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY KABUL AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000270
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID NATO AF PK AE
SUBJECT: UAE THOUGHTS ON AFGHAN POLICY REVIEW
REFS: A) ABU DHABI 173, B) STATE 14097, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1291
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000270
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID NATO AF PK AE
SUBJECT: UAE THOUGHTS ON AFGHAN POLICY REVIEW
REFS: A) ABU DHABI 173, B) STATE 14097, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1291
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The UAE's input to our Afghan/Pakistan policy
review is constructive and broadly consistent with current US policy
insofar as it calls for: supporting Pakistan; upping reconstruction
assistance; urging Pakistan and Afghanistan to work better together;
and looking skeptically at Iranian involvement. Where it differs
from current policy is in urging a dialogue with the Taliban. In the
UAE's view, "ignoring the Taliban as part of a comprehensive solution
is not feasible." End summary.
2. (SBU) As promised Ref A, UAE Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash provided the Ambassador, on March 17, a
summary of UAE views on Afghanistan in reply to our request for its
perspectives. Following is an informal Embassy translation of the
two-page Arabic document provided, which clearly notes the primacy of
a stable Pakistan in solving Afghanistan's troubles.
3. (C) Begin text of UAE paper entitled "UAE View of the Situation
in Afghanistan":
The UAE is very concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and
hopes the international community can convert Afghanistan into a
stable region enjoying peace and security. The UAE believes that
peace and security are achievable through the joint efforts of all
concerned parties. The UAE looks responsibly [with the eye of
responsibility] to the difficult and the inter-twined situation in
Afghanistan, and calls for solving the problem through all possible
peaceful means with the participation of the primary concerned
parties, particularly Pakistan and the Taliban.
Pakistan is capable of playing an effective role as a part of the
solution, and Pakistani support remains significant in the context of
eliminating extremist and terrorist groups and their leaders.
The existence of terrorist elements in Pakistani territories worries
the UAE, which is aware that Pakistan is facing harsh criticisms for
its inability to clearly separate terrorist elements from local
Islamic movements which Pakistan can negotiate with. However, the
UAE still believes that suitable solutions can be found for this
issue. Developing the relationship between Afghanistan and its
neighbors, particularly Pakistan, is necessary, and should include
building confidence among all parties and overcoming historical
interference from the region. It is necessary also to reassure
Pakistan that solving the Afghan problem will contribute to stability
in Pakistan and will mitigate possible sources of threat and risk to
Pakistan.
The Taliban movement can also play a role in solving the Afghan
problem; as the movement has recently returned to armed activity and
proven its abilities in military operations it has gained support
from Afghani citizens in the violent areas, causing a negative impact
on Afghani national sentiments. Many believe that the Taliban will
return to the power. The international community might therefore
open dialogue channels with the Taliban and to make it part of a
solution.
The UAE believes that Iran has key goals in Afghanistan, including:
preventing establishment of an ominous government in Afghanistan
under Taliban leadership; supporting "Afghani Shia Consciousness";
securing consolidated Afghani borders; and participating in
reconstructing the future Afghanistan. Nonetheless, Iran's attitude
toward Afghanistan is still fluctuating; Iran is launching political
propaganda to support resistance in Afghanistan, although Iran's
attitude and policy is against the Taliban and it does not appear
ready to support the Taliban or other opposition movements.
The UAE, based on the above, calls for changing current methods of
dealing with the problem, and calls for solutions by all possible
peaceful means and through the following:
First: To support stability in Pakistan as one of the significant
keys for solving the Afghan problem. Accordingly, the UAE has taken
notable steps to support all Pakistani national security and military
institutions, and the UAE has worked persistently to find harmony
between these institutions and the current civil institutions in
Pakistan.
Second: To work with the Pakistani government in combating extremism
and terrorism by supporting security and military capabilities in
Pakistan, in addition to emphasizing its comprehensive development
through assistance and economic aid.
Third: To strengthen political and civil institutions in Pakistan.
The political game in Pakistan should be within the legal political
framework, particularly the parliament, and based on the peaceful
exchange of power among all civilian political quarters.
Fourth: To support harmony between Afghanistan and Pakistan and to
find suitable means to create confidence between them, and to
distance those things which cause stress and dissension.
Fifth: To work on stability of Afghanistan by supporting security
and development efforts.
Sixth: To build confidence among regional neighbors of Afghanistan,
including India. The international community can deal deliberately
with all concerned parties to convince them that many of their
interests can be achieved by resolving the Afghan problem.
Seventh: To convince all warring factions in Afghanistan of the good
intentions of the international community toward Afghanistan and that
those goals will not be achieved unless they presently stop the
dangerous conflicts between them.
Eighth: The UAE believes that the infrastructure in Afghanistan
needs fundamental reconstruction, and the UAE is making every effort
to assist in that reconstruction, particularly essential services
such as roads, electricity, water, health facilities and agricultural
investments.
Ninth: To convince all parties in the international community that
play meaningful roles in Afghanistan through effective political and
diplomatic efforts in the country's internal and external affairs,
because this will help the internal political situation and prevent
many unwanted external interventions.
Tenth: In light of the Taliban's noticeable return to military
activity, the UAE believes that ignoring the Taliban as part of a
comprehensive solution is not feasible. Therefore, the UAE suggests
opening dialogue with the Taliban in order to reach fundamental
solutions to outstanding problems with the Taliban.
End text.
OLSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID NATO AF PK AE
SUBJECT: UAE THOUGHTS ON AFGHAN POLICY REVIEW
REFS: A) ABU DHABI 173, B) STATE 14097, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1291
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The UAE's input to our Afghan/Pakistan policy
review is constructive and broadly consistent with current US policy
insofar as it calls for: supporting Pakistan; upping reconstruction
assistance; urging Pakistan and Afghanistan to work better together;
and looking skeptically at Iranian involvement. Where it differs
from current policy is in urging a dialogue with the Taliban. In the
UAE's view, "ignoring the Taliban as part of a comprehensive solution
is not feasible." End summary.
2. (SBU) As promised Ref A, UAE Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash provided the Ambassador, on March 17, a
summary of UAE views on Afghanistan in reply to our request for its
perspectives. Following is an informal Embassy translation of the
two-page Arabic document provided, which clearly notes the primacy of
a stable Pakistan in solving Afghanistan's troubles.
3. (C) Begin text of UAE paper entitled "UAE View of the Situation
in Afghanistan":
The UAE is very concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and
hopes the international community can convert Afghanistan into a
stable region enjoying peace and security. The UAE believes that
peace and security are achievable through the joint efforts of all
concerned parties. The UAE looks responsibly [with the eye of
responsibility] to the difficult and the inter-twined situation in
Afghanistan, and calls for solving the problem through all possible
peaceful means with the participation of the primary concerned
parties, particularly Pakistan and the Taliban.
Pakistan is capable of playing an effective role as a part of the
solution, and Pakistani support remains significant in the context of
eliminating extremist and terrorist groups and their leaders.
The existence of terrorist elements in Pakistani territories worries
the UAE, which is aware that Pakistan is facing harsh criticisms for
its inability to clearly separate terrorist elements from local
Islamic movements which Pakistan can negotiate with. However, the
UAE still believes that suitable solutions can be found for this
issue. Developing the relationship between Afghanistan and its
neighbors, particularly Pakistan, is necessary, and should include
building confidence among all parties and overcoming historical
interference from the region. It is necessary also to reassure
Pakistan that solving the Afghan problem will contribute to stability
in Pakistan and will mitigate possible sources of threat and risk to
Pakistan.
The Taliban movement can also play a role in solving the Afghan
problem; as the movement has recently returned to armed activity and
proven its abilities in military operations it has gained support
from Afghani citizens in the violent areas, causing a negative impact
on Afghani national sentiments. Many believe that the Taliban will
return to the power. The international community might therefore
open dialogue channels with the Taliban and to make it part of a
solution.
The UAE believes that Iran has key goals in Afghanistan, including:
preventing establishment of an ominous government in Afghanistan
under Taliban leadership; supporting "Afghani Shia Consciousness";
securing consolidated Afghani borders; and participating in
reconstructing the future Afghanistan. Nonetheless, Iran's attitude
toward Afghanistan is still fluctuating; Iran is launching political
propaganda to support resistance in Afghanistan, although Iran's
attitude and policy is against the Taliban and it does not appear
ready to support the Taliban or other opposition movements.
The UAE, based on the above, calls for changing current methods of
dealing with the problem, and calls for solutions by all possible
peaceful means and through the following:
First: To support stability in Pakistan as one of the significant
keys for solving the Afghan problem. Accordingly, the UAE has taken
notable steps to support all Pakistani national security and military
institutions, and the UAE has worked persistently to find harmony
between these institutions and the current civil institutions in
Pakistan.
Second: To work with the Pakistani government in combating extremism
and terrorism by supporting security and military capabilities in
Pakistan, in addition to emphasizing its comprehensive development
through assistance and economic aid.
Third: To strengthen political and civil institutions in Pakistan.
The political game in Pakistan should be within the legal political
framework, particularly the parliament, and based on the peaceful
exchange of power among all civilian political quarters.
Fourth: To support harmony between Afghanistan and Pakistan and to
find suitable means to create confidence between them, and to
distance those things which cause stress and dissension.
Fifth: To work on stability of Afghanistan by supporting security
and development efforts.
Sixth: To build confidence among regional neighbors of Afghanistan,
including India. The international community can deal deliberately
with all concerned parties to convince them that many of their
interests can be achieved by resolving the Afghan problem.
Seventh: To convince all warring factions in Afghanistan of the good
intentions of the international community toward Afghanistan and that
those goals will not be achieved unless they presently stop the
dangerous conflicts between them.
Eighth: The UAE believes that the infrastructure in Afghanistan
needs fundamental reconstruction, and the UAE is making every effort
to assist in that reconstruction, particularly essential services
such as roads, electricity, water, health facilities and agricultural
investments.
Ninth: To convince all parties in the international community that
play meaningful roles in Afghanistan through effective political and
diplomatic efforts in the country's internal and external affairs,
because this will help the internal political situation and prevent
many unwanted external interventions.
Tenth: In light of the Taliban's noticeable return to military
activity, the UAE believes that ignoring the Taliban as part of a
comprehensive solution is not feasible. Therefore, the UAE suggests
opening dialogue with the Taliban in order to reach fundamental
solutions to outstanding problems with the Taliban.
End text.
OLSON