Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ISLAMABAD152
2010-01-23 08:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JANUARY 13 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000152
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF EAID PK
SUBJECT: SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JANUARY 13 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER QURESHI
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000152
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF EAID PK
SUBJECT: SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JANUARY 13 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER QURESHI
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (C) Foreign Minister Qureshi opened the January 13 meeting
with SRAP Holbrooke by stressing the need to pay more
attention to the bilateral relationship. He stated that the
situation in Afghanistan needed to improve and that Pakistan
could assist in these efforts by actively participating in
the London Conference and contributing to the civilian surge
outlined in President Obama's December 1 speech. He
explained that Pakistan's proximity to, shared history with,
and cultural ties to Afghanistan made it uniquely qualified
to provide training, reintegration, reconciliation, and
reconstruction expertise. Qureshi highlighted the importance
of moving forward on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs),
but stated that he understood the delay is due to the
difficult legislative climate and calendar in the U.S. He
noted the significant progress made previously on the
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and encouraged immediate
resumption of negotiations, characterizing the BIT as an
important precursor to a Free Trade Agreement. He added that
the U.S. could build goodwill and improve public opinion by
mobilizing investment, especially in the energy sector.
2. (C) Qureshi said that he wanted to move beyond the
bilateral irritants -- visas, land acquisition, demarches,
etc. -- and explained that he had delivered his views, in
writing, to the Prime Minister. He lauded the good work done
by the Obama administration in several areas, but maintained
that the U.S. was insensitive to the sensibilities of the
Pakistani public. As an example, he cited the enhanced
security screening of Pakistanis by the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) and urged the U.S. to
reconsider the policy. At that point, Ambassador Holbrooke
informed Qureshi that the Homeland Security Secretary
Napolitano asked him to relay the following points: (1) the
changes resulted from a study ordered by President Obama to
thoroughly review the previous TSA guidelines; (2) Pakistan
was not singled out for extra scrutiny and other U.S. allies,
such as Saudi Arabia, were also on the list; (3) there were
existing random security checks at other airports, like
Heathrow; and (4) we would conduct an ongoing review of
countries on the list and make adjustments as warranted.
3. (C) Qureshi then asked for timely reimbursements from
Coalition Support Funds (CSF). Ambassador Holbrooke
responded that the Embassy staff needed to process the
estimated $1.5 billion in reimbursements are in the U.S.
awaiting the issuance of their Pakistani visas. He added
that Pakistan already had all of the information required to
process the visas and that the issue could be solved in one
day if Pakistan were so inclined. Qureshi ended the meeting
saying that there were three issues which could undermine the
bilateral relationship: (1) drones; (2) U.S. ground
operations on Pakistani soil; and (3) the perception that the
U.S. is not paying attention to Pakistan's security concerns
regarding India.
4. (U) This cable has been cleared by SRAP.
5. (U) Participants
Government of Pakistan
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister
Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary
Zaheer Pervez Khan, MFA Director General
Sohail Khan, MFA Director General (Americas)
Tehmina Janjua, MFA Secretary of Strategic Planning
Attiya Mahmood, MFA Additional Secretary (Americas)
Abdul Basit, MFA Spokesman
USG
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ambassador Anne W. Patterson
Vali Nasr, SRAP Senior Advisor
Ashley Bommer, SRAP Special Advisor
Barney Rubin, SRAP Senior Advisor
Rami Shy, SRAP Treasury Advisor
Mary Beth Goodman, SRAP Economic Advisor
Burton Field, SRAP Military Advisor
ISLAMABAD 00000152 002 OF 002
Rosemarie Pauli, SRAP Chief of Staff
Bryan Hunt, Embassy Political Counselor
Andrei Cotton, Embassy Political Officer (notetaker)
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF EAID PK
SUBJECT: SRAP HOLBROOKE'S JANUARY 13 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER QURESHI
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (C) Foreign Minister Qureshi opened the January 13 meeting
with SRAP Holbrooke by stressing the need to pay more
attention to the bilateral relationship. He stated that the
situation in Afghanistan needed to improve and that Pakistan
could assist in these efforts by actively participating in
the London Conference and contributing to the civilian surge
outlined in President Obama's December 1 speech. He
explained that Pakistan's proximity to, shared history with,
and cultural ties to Afghanistan made it uniquely qualified
to provide training, reintegration, reconciliation, and
reconstruction expertise. Qureshi highlighted the importance
of moving forward on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs),
but stated that he understood the delay is due to the
difficult legislative climate and calendar in the U.S. He
noted the significant progress made previously on the
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and encouraged immediate
resumption of negotiations, characterizing the BIT as an
important precursor to a Free Trade Agreement. He added that
the U.S. could build goodwill and improve public opinion by
mobilizing investment, especially in the energy sector.
2. (C) Qureshi said that he wanted to move beyond the
bilateral irritants -- visas, land acquisition, demarches,
etc. -- and explained that he had delivered his views, in
writing, to the Prime Minister. He lauded the good work done
by the Obama administration in several areas, but maintained
that the U.S. was insensitive to the sensibilities of the
Pakistani public. As an example, he cited the enhanced
security screening of Pakistanis by the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) and urged the U.S. to
reconsider the policy. At that point, Ambassador Holbrooke
informed Qureshi that the Homeland Security Secretary
Napolitano asked him to relay the following points: (1) the
changes resulted from a study ordered by President Obama to
thoroughly review the previous TSA guidelines; (2) Pakistan
was not singled out for extra scrutiny and other U.S. allies,
such as Saudi Arabia, were also on the list; (3) there were
existing random security checks at other airports, like
Heathrow; and (4) we would conduct an ongoing review of
countries on the list and make adjustments as warranted.
3. (C) Qureshi then asked for timely reimbursements from
Coalition Support Funds (CSF). Ambassador Holbrooke
responded that the Embassy staff needed to process the
estimated $1.5 billion in reimbursements are in the U.S.
awaiting the issuance of their Pakistani visas. He added
that Pakistan already had all of the information required to
process the visas and that the issue could be solved in one
day if Pakistan were so inclined. Qureshi ended the meeting
saying that there were three issues which could undermine the
bilateral relationship: (1) drones; (2) U.S. ground
operations on Pakistani soil; and (3) the perception that the
U.S. is not paying attention to Pakistan's security concerns
regarding India.
4. (U) This cable has been cleared by SRAP.
5. (U) Participants
Government of Pakistan
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister
Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary
Zaheer Pervez Khan, MFA Director General
Sohail Khan, MFA Director General (Americas)
Tehmina Janjua, MFA Secretary of Strategic Planning
Attiya Mahmood, MFA Additional Secretary (Americas)
Abdul Basit, MFA Spokesman
USG
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ambassador Anne W. Patterson
Vali Nasr, SRAP Senior Advisor
Ashley Bommer, SRAP Special Advisor
Barney Rubin, SRAP Senior Advisor
Rami Shy, SRAP Treasury Advisor
Mary Beth Goodman, SRAP Economic Advisor
Burton Field, SRAP Military Advisor
ISLAMABAD 00000152 002 OF 002
Rosemarie Pauli, SRAP Chief of Staff
Bryan Hunt, Embassy Political Counselor
Andrei Cotton, Embassy Political Officer (notetaker)
PATTERSON