AFGHANISTAN MEETS PAKISTANI CONDITIONS FOR APTTA ROUND FOUR

UNCLAS KABUL 003391 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/FRONT OFFICE, SCA/A, AND EEB/BTA DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL PK AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN MEETS PAKISTANI CONDITIONS FOR APTTA ROUND FOUR REFS: Kabul 3306 and previous ¶1. (SBU) Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industries (MOCI) Wahidullah Shahrani told Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs E. Anthony Wayne October 22 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would transmit a formal letter by close of business that day inviting Pakistan to the fourth round of Afghanistan- Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) talks. In addition, the MFA will attach the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the re-export/unauthorized trade study to the letter per Pakistan's request. ¶2. (SBU) Shahrani said he spoke with Foreign Minister Spanta earlier October 22 regarding the MFA's delay in transmitting the GIRoA acceptance of the TOR. Shahrani also dispatched his senior trade advisor to the MFA to facilitate the letter's transmission, with MOCI supplying the draft text. The Commerce Ministry has proposed November 10-11 or November 17-18 in Kabul as possible dates for the fourth round of talks. Shahrani said the MFA will transmit the letter both to the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad. Embassy Kabul will notify Washington upon confirmation of transmission. EIKENBERRY