APRIL 27 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-IRAN FOREIGN

UNCLAS KABUL 001039

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AF IR PK
SUBJECT: APRIL 27 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-IRAN FOREIGN
MINISTERIAL: LOW SUBSTANCE

1.(SBU) FM Spanta will host Pakistani FM Qureshi and Iranian
FM Mottaki at a 4/27 trilateral in Kabul, to prepare for a
yet-to-be-scheduled trilateral heads of state meeting in
Tehran. MFA Senior Advisor Davood Marodian reported on 4/23
that the MFA was approaching next week's meeting with some
caution, as Pakistan and Iran have pressed to expand the
proposed areas of trilateral cooperation beyond earlier
agreed to areas like agriculture, transportation, and transit
trade to include trilateral security issues like
counterterrorism, border enforcement and military
cooperation. Afghanistan is less concerned about the
possibility of trilateral counternarcotics collaboration.
The MFA's view on trilateral security cooperation is
influenced by the history of the two neighboring countries'
roles in Afghanistan's internal and security affairs.


2. (U) The three countries' heads of state agreed at the 3/11
Economic Cooperation Organization meeting in Tehran to hold a
trilateral summit in Tehran in May. Marodian informed us
that the three countries have not set an exact date for the
summit meeting, but Iran was pushing hard to hold it some
time before its June 12 presidential elections. Marodian
speculated President Ahmadinejad was seeking that timing to
give him a political boost ahead of the election.


3. (U) Marodian reported that the three governments were now
negotiating a joint statement that would emphasize trilateral
politicial consultation and regional cooperation, with an
emphasis on economic an cultural areas of common interest.
As for the 4/27 events, the three foreign ministers will
first meet jointly with President Karzai, then hold separate
bilateral meetings, and conclude the day with a trilateral
plenary session.
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