SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JUNE 5 MEETING WITH FM QURESHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 001299

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM IN UN PK
SUBJECT: SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JUNE 5 MEETING WITH FM QURESHI

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: SRAP Holbrooke met with Foreign Minister
Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Bashir and other Foreign Office
officials on January 5. Qureshi said Pakistan was united
under Zardari's civilian government, as the ongoing Pakistan
military campaign to defeat the Taliban in Swat valley and
neighboring areas had gained the support of the populace.
Qureshi and Holbrooke agreed on the need for a high-level UN
Humanitarian Coordinator to be appointed to improve
assistance coordination for the internally displaced. They
also agreed the current success of the military offensive and
the popular support for it could wither if IDPs did not
return quickly. Qureshi asked for help in activating the EU
on trade issues, particularly on GSP plus; Bashir asked that
the U.S. weigh in with Singapore to upgrade the GOP's status
in ASEAN. Holbrooke pledged to meet with EU Ambassadors and
to look into the ASEAN matter. The GOP is willing to engage
with India, said Qureshi, noting this would be made easier if
India was able to "give up its obsession" with the Mumbai
terror attacks. When Qureshi noted that Pakistan wanted to
ensure the USG was comfortable with China's development plans
in Afghanistan, Holbrooke asked the GOP to tell the Chinese
that Pakistan would welcome USG-China cooperation in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Qureshi asked that the GOP be kept
informed as the U.S. and NATO military ramp up operations in
RC-South, given the likelihood it would increase Taliban
movement into the Waziristans. End Summary.

Moment of National Unity
--------------


2. (C) SRAP Holbrooke met with Foreign Minister Qureshi,
Foreign Secretary Bashir and other Foreign Office officials
at the Foreign Office on January 5. Qureshi's main theme was
that the nation was finally united, as the ongoing Pakistan
military campaign to defeat the Taliban in Swat valley and
neighboring areas has gained popular support. Qureshi
attributed this success to the civilian government's decision
to discuss the need for a national counter-terrorism strategy
in Parliament. Together with Prime Minister Gilani's
convocation of an All Parties Conference on the matter, which
brought on board more than forty political leaders including
those not part of the ruling coalition, the process had built
cross-party unity and support for the military offensive.
(Comment: While there may be more popular support for
Pakistan's military operations against insurgents, the
picture of total national unity painted by Qureshi is perhaps
exaggerated, as many of the refugees we met with blamed the
Pakistani military ) not the Taliban ) for their current
plight. End comment.)


3. (C) The military have defeated the Taliban in many areas,
said Qureshi, and will continue to fight to complete the job.
At the same time, the populace, which formerly may have been
ambiguous about the role of the Taliban, had united behind
the military offensive. This was equally significant proof
that the civilian government could gain full public support,
including among the Pashtun populace, for the military
offensive. Plans to maintain a military cantonment in Swat
and Malakand have been made by the military, said Kayani.
Holbrooke asked Qureshi to confirm reports from Army Chief of
Staff (COAS) Kayani that the police force in Swat had been
destroyed; the FM concurred. Holbrooke noted Kayani,s
position that the GOP does not want USG support in providing
security forces for Swat, but would welcome assistance on the
civilian side. "This was fine," said Holbrooke, "the U.S.
would make a contribution where it is of use."


4. (C) Success on the battlefield and in driving the Taliban
out of Swat and neighboring regions, said Qureshi, would be
wasted if Pakistan failed to win the "hearts and minds"
campaign. That campaign would be based on the success (or
failure) of the GOP to provide economic resources to the
affected regions. National unity in support of the civilian
government, and the military offensive, would be lost if the
local populations failed to prosper after suffering human and

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economic losses, said Qureshi.

"Changing the Mood" of Donor Nations
--------------


5. (C) Qureshi expressed his gratitude to the USG for its
own pledges at the Tokyo donor conference, the humanitarian
assistance provided to help internal refugees, the diplomatic
capital spent to lobby other nations to assist Pakistan, and
for hosting the Trilateral Summit. The Tokyo conference and
the Trilateral Summit had "served to change the mood" toward
Pakistan among nations, he said. Plans to invite the Energy
Minister to the next Trilateral proved that the relationship
was not based solely on security but addressed other issues,
such as trade, commerce, water and energy.


6. (C) Progress was made with the memorandum of
understanding (MOU) on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade
Agreement, said Qureshi. Qureshi noted media coverage which
criticized the signing of the MOU in Washington, given that
transit trade is an agreement between Afghanistan and
Pakistan. The
Foreign Minister said he had made presentations to Parliament
explaining the benefits of the agreement for Pakistan and
would be meeting with Pakistani senators to convey the same
message.

Standing up to the Taliban
--------------


7. (C) A sea change had taken place in the public's
willingness to stand up to the Taliban, said Qureshi.
Previously, the population, including in Swat, had been
fearful of speaking against the Taliban. To do so, he said,
was to risk one's life. But the military campaign had
changed this dynamic. (Note: The IDPs we spoke to in the
refugee camps did not indicate that everyone felt this way,
as many blamed the Pakistani military for their current
plight.) Qureshi maintained the link between Al Qaeda,
Tehrik-i-Taliban and some of the other illegal organizations
had been made clear. Now people were speaking out, in the
print media, on television, and in conversation -- and
discrediting the Taliban and their violence. Qureshi himself
had gone to Multan (the Foreign Minister is also a Sufi
saint) and delivered a message of religious moderation that
condemned suicide bombing as counter to the Koran. The
Secretary, noted Holbrooke, had been most impressed by the
Foreign Secretary's pledge to take such action when they had
met in Washington. "I didn't just say I would do it," said
Qureshi, "it is already done."


8. (C) Work remained, however, cautioned Qureshi --
including on Madrassa reform, border control and stemming
illegal arms flows. The U.S. could help on the latter two.
He lamented that extremist Hafiz Saeed had been released by
the Lahore High Court (reported septel) but said the
judiciary was independent. Pakistan would have to guard
against illegal organizations cropping up under new names
providing networks for the Taliban or other extremists.


9. (C) Foreign Secretary Bashir and FM Qureshi also
underscored the need for coordination between the USG and
Pakistan on any increase in US attacks against insurgents in
Southeast Afghanistan, as it would likely push more
insurgents into Waziristan. Holbrooke said he expected
communication between Ambassadors Patterson and Eikenberry
from Kabul that would keep Pakistan informed of USG/NATO
intentions in the border region.

"Relief, RETURN, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction"
-------------- ---


10. (C) The GOP would be guided by its "three Rs" policy to
manage humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced
populations -- "relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction,"
said Qureshi. Holbrooke suggested adding &an 'R' for
'return.'" Having visited the camps for the internally

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displaced on June 3, Holbrooke told Qureshi and the Foreign
Office staff assembled that the GOP had done a good job in
managing the humanitarian crisis. No one in the camps was
"starving, or dying, or asking why they were there," as he
had witnessed in other nations. "Everyone knows why they are
there," said Holbrooke, "and they want to return home."


11. (C) Qureshi again thanked the USG for its humanitarian
assistance for the internally displaced and underscored the
importance of rehabilitation and reconstruction to making the
military operation a long-term success. He added that it was
the Pakistani people, not the GOP, who had shouldered the
burden. Eighty percent of the displaced persons were being
sheltered by Pakistanis, relatives or not. Qureshi added
that some 24-25 thousand people had already returned and that
the GOP wanted the displaced to return as soon as possible,
not least due to concerns that with the hot weather, the risk
of disease spreading in the camps was higher the longer the
people remained in them.


Senior UN Humanitarian Coordinator Needed
--------------


12. (C) Qureshi told Holbrooke the GOP had decided a strong
UN Humanitarian Coordinator was needed to improve upon the
delivery of humanitarian assistance to the displaced. FS
Bashir issued a caveat -- the Humanitarian Coordinator could
not have the title of SRSG nor a mandate to investigate
broader human rights and international humanitarian law
issues in Pakistan. Holbrooke agreed that a senior UN
Humanitarian Coordinator must be appointed, and noted
elevating a UN official already resident in Islamabad was
insufficient. PRM/ECA Director Nagy stressed that a
Coordinator would be needed to meet upcoming needs of the
displaced.


13. (C) Ambassador Patterson explained that a visit by the
UN Special Rapporteur for the Internally Displaced, Walter
Kalin, had been proposed but this was unrelated to the
Humanitarian Coordinator. She and Holbrooke said that matter
was a separate issue to be decided by the GOP and the UN.

EU Summit
--------------


14. (C) Qureshi asked for Holbrooke's help in
institutionalizing a yearly EU-Pakistan Summit. He pledged
to share any Pakistan draft statements but mostly asked for
Holbrooke's help in stimulating ongoing EU interest in
Pakistan, particularly trade access. Holbrooke pledged to
meet with EU Ambassadors in Washington and did so on June 10.
He also agreed to reach out to European Foreign Ministers
including Carl Bildt of Sweden and Bernard Kouchner of
France. Qureshi said Spain had already expressed interest in
holding a Summit with Pakistan during its EU Presidency;
Bildt was also engaged.

Improving Relations with India
--------------


15. (C) Qureshi said Pakistan was willing to engage with
India, but it would be difficult of the Indians hinged
everything on &its obsession with Mumbai." This was not to
imply that the GOP would not pursue the Mumbai matter, but
the GOI had set an ill-defined standard of compliance. The
new government in India was stronger than the last; Qureshi
took this as a positive signal. Bashir asked about USG
attendance at a meeting in Moscow and hinted that both
President Zardari and Indian PM Singh would be there.

Afghan Civilian Deaths and Drones
--------------


16. (C) The loss of civilian life through U.S. military
action in Afghanistan was on the top of Holbrooke's list, he
said. The effects of such actions rippled through and across

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into Pakistan. Qureshi tried to compare this problem to the
loss of civilian life caused by drone attacks in Pakistan but
Holbrooke rejected Qureshi's charge, saying the two could not
be compared, as drones were more targeted than bombs.


Foreign Office Help with Visas and Armored Cars
-------------- --


17. (C) Holbrooke and the Ambassador asked Qureshi for help
in breaking bureaucratic logjams on the issuance of Pakistani
visas to official Americans and to the release of armored
vehicles for Embassy use. Qureshi said he would have the
Foreign Office weigh in; he thought it nonsensical that the
GOP was delaying entry of the vehicles.

ASEAN
--------------


18. (C) Bashir and Qureshi asked Holbrooke for help in
moving Singapore to accept a greater role for Pakistan in
ASEAN; Holbrooke pledged to look into the matter.

China/Pakistan relations
--------------


19. (C) In a surprising line of inquiry, Bashir asked if
there was any USG opposition to Chinese development activity
in Afghanistan or cooperation with Pakistan there. Holbrooke
said there was not. He added that the USG intended to step
up its engagement with China in Kabul, noting that Ambassador
Eikenberry is a fluent Mandarin speaker. He expressed his
disappointment that China did not make a donation at the
Tokyo Donor's conference but he acknowledged that China and
Pakistan had a strong bilateral relationship. Bashir
indicated that Pakistan wanted to be sure the U.S. was
comfortable with China's role in Afghanistan. In response,
Holbrooke urged Bashir (and Qureshi) to tell the Chinese
encouraged Sino/American cooperation in the region.


20. (SBU) Participants: SRAP Holbrooke, Ambassador
Patterson, Major General Burton Field, SRAP Chief of Staff
Rosemarie Pauli, Special Advisor Ashley Bommer, Special
Assistant Kimberly McClure, Economic Advisor Mary Beth
Goodman, USAID Advisor Beth Dunford, NSC Director for South
Asia Anish Goel, PRM/ECA Director Eleanor Nagy and A/Polcouns
Kirsten Schulz (notetaker). Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Bashir, Spokesman Abdul Basit,
Americas Director Sohail Khan and other Foreign Office staff.
PATTERSON