UAE AID TO PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000616 DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, S/SRAP/MBGOODMAN, SCA/P/TSPENCER ALSO FOR EEB/RACHEL LEATHAM E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019 TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN PK AE SUBJECT: UAE AID TO PAKISTAN REFS: A) STATE 61218, B) ABU DHABI 574, C) ABU DHABI 485 Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In our ongoing effort to keep the UAEG focused on Pakistan's funding needs, the DCM on June 15 asked MFA Assistant Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Tariq al-Haidan about the status of the $300 million pledged in Tokyo. Al-Haidan said that initial distribution of funds was underway "to the displaced persons in SWAT." Pressed to distinguish between the $300 million promised in Tokyo and the $30 million promised more recently to S/SRAP Holbrooke for IDP's (ref B),al-Haidan's understanding was that the IDP support "comes from the $300 million pledged in Tokyo" (contrary to details reported in Ref B) and said he had no instructions (perhaps no visibility) regarding the remainder of the Tokyo pledge. ¶2. (C) As for the $30 million in IDP support, al-Haidan said some would be channeled through UNHCR and some through other avenues. PolChief learned that the local UNHCR office had no visibility on the $30 million and needed help contacting the Khalifa Charitable Foundation which -- according to official statements by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs over the weekend -- is overseeing those funds. The Foundation's Executive Director told us June 14 that some of the funds were already being expended through existing contacts in the Government of Pakistan, to include funds for emergency food and shelter. He held out the possibility of channeling money through UNHCR without making specific commitments. We facilitated a June 15 meeting between the Foundation and UNHCR to encourage direct coordination and since learned from UNHCR that they had a productive dialogue -- although no particular amount was promised. ¶3. (C) Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD, ref C), likely overseer of the larger Tokyo commitment of $300 million, told EconChief June 14 that the funds had not yet been transferred to ADFD. Post will continue to engage with ADFD in hopes of facilitating coordination between UAEG donations and Pakistan's needs. ¶4. (C) Comment: The UAEG's pledges are significant and well intentioned, but execution can encounter capacity shortfalls and bureaucratic delays. Post remains of the understanding that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed promised $30 million in IDP support in addition to the larger Tokyo commitment; it would not be surprising if senior levels of MFA are nonetheless not privy to details of decisions made at a higher (royal) level. We will continue to seek clarification and emphasize the urgency of Pakistan's funding needs; we recommend senior USG interlocutors do the same when discussing the issue with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, who also heads the ADFD. End comment. OLSON