UAE: PAKISTAN IDP POINTS DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000559


FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD CVIS AE
SUBJECT: UAE: PAKISTAN IDP POINTS DELIVERED

REF: STATE 55536


Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador discussed reftel points on Pakistani
IDPs in a meeting with Assistant Foreign Minister, Dr. Tariq Al
Haidan. Al Haidan agreed that that the situation in Pakistan was
serious and warranted attention, but did not offer any commitments.
He approved of progress in both Afghanistan and Iraq, but sought some
clarification on USG thoughts on Afghan elections. End summary.

--------------
PAKISTAN'S DISPLACED PERSONS
--------------


2. (SBU) June 3, Ambassador Olson discussed the Pakistani IDP
situation with newly appointed Assistant Foreign Minister, Dr. Tariq
Al Haidan. Al Haidan agreed that the situation in Pakistan was dire.
He advised that the UAEG was already providing in-kind humanitarian
assistance to IDPs through the Red Crescent. UAEG intelligence on
the ground notes IDPs understandable anxiety over the conditions of
their homes if they are able to return given the swiftness with which
they were forced to flee in the first place. IDPs worry that the
situation in Swat may extend as far as Lahore and Islamabad if the
Government of Pakistan does not get a handle on the situation soon.
Al Haidan, however, felt that the GOP had a good idea of what was
going on in Swat. He was however concerned that Pakistan was failing
to control the spread of militant radicalism.


3. (SBU) Al Haidan stressed that just because the UAE and others
already provide assistance to Pakistan, "others" should not think
that Pakistan no longer requires assistance. The UAEG "disagrees
with Saudi Arabia" whose dislike for Zadari informs its lack of will
to help Pakistan. He chuckled that Saudi Arabia was "embarrassed
into donating" when the UAEG made its US$ 300 million donation to
Pakistan.

--------------
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ
--------------


4. (SBU) Among the positive developments since the new
administration took over, Al Haidan noted "the new strategies in
Afghanistan and Iraq are very positive" and that "we hope the people
in Afghanistan will improve their outlook". He deemed the
reconstruction efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq "successful" and
said "improved dialogue will pave the way for more".


5. (C) On the subject of elections in Afghanistan, Al Haidan wanted
to know if the USG "fully supported Karzai" and whether the USG saw
any alternatives to Karzai. He admitted that the Iranian Foreign
Minister had publicly expressed satisfaction with Karzai and laid the
blame for any problems in Afghanistan on "other foreigners". Al
Haidan with some humor pointed out that the Iranian FM expressed the
same thoughts about Maliki, suggesting that Maliki was doing a good
job in the rebuilding of Iraq and that any problems there were due to
"foreigners" too. Al Haidan expressed UAEG concerns that Iran had
too much influence in Iraq. He pointed to the establishment of a
UAEG diplomatic presence in Iraq as evidence of UAEG's interest in
Iraq's development but admitted that corruption in Iraq hampered
business relations.


6. (C) COMMENT: The UAE apparently will continue to provide in-kind
assistance through the Red Crescent society, its preferred way of
delivering humanitarian assistance.


OLSON