SRAP HOLBROOKE'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZARDARI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 000431

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2035
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ECON EAID PK
SUBJECT: SRAP HOLBROOKE'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZARDARI

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


1. (S/NF) Summary: In a February 18 meeting, Ambassador
Holbrooke thanked President Zardari for GOP cooperation in
fighting Taliban militants, especially the recent capture of
Afghan Taliban military leader Mullah Beradar. Zardari
agreed that the United States and Pakistan had weakened the
Taliban leadership but noted that this was only the first
stage, as success depended on turning local populations
against the Taliban. Holbrooke noted that the popular
perception of the U.S. reintegration and reconciliation
efforts with the Taliban mistakenly overemphasized the
possibility for reconciliation, explaining that
reconciliation with Taliban leaders was less likely than
reintegrating low-level Taliban who had given up the fight.
Holbrooke said the ISAF military offensive was succeeding in
Helmand, Afghanistan. Zardari said that if the United States
could hold the captured territory there and bring in stable
governance and needed social services, the Helmand strategy
"could work." Holbrooke commended the upcoming February 25
talks between Pakistan and India's Foreign Secretaries.
Zardari and Holbrooke discussed means for funding a road
through Chitral to Tajikistan that would further integrate
Pakistan with Central Asia. Zardari said Pakistan needed $50
billion in aid, though he recognized the United States could
not provide such an amount of assistance. Holbrooke promised
to follow up with Senator Kerry on the possibility of
including U.S. trade concessions in Kerry's Security Package
for Pakistan legislation. End Summary.

Cooperation in capturing the Taliban leadership
-------------- --


2. (S/NF) In February 18 meeting, Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) Ambassador Holbrooke
commended Zardari for U.S.-Pakistan cooperation in the
capture of Afghan Taliban military leader Mullah Abdul Ghani
Beradar, describing it as a "text-book case." He noted that
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was pleased with it, especially
as Beradar comes from the same tribe as him. Holbrooke asked
about the whereabouts of Pakistani Taliban leaders Sufi
Mohammad and Mullah Fazlullah. Zardari said that Mohammad
was in protective custody while Fazlullah remained at large,
but "much weaker than before."


3. (S/NF) Zardari said the capture of Taliban leaders was
only a first step and that the key to fighting militants was
to turn the local populations against them. He noted that
Pakistan had come a long way since the siege of the Red
Mosque in 2007. Once the Pakistani people had begun to "take
public ownership" of the fight against terrorism, it began to
succeed.

Talking to the Taliban
--------------


4. (S/NF) Holbrooke said that the media had over blown the
prospects of political reconciliation with Taliban senior
leadership and reintegration of low-level Taliban who had
given up the fight. While the USG was pursuing
reintegration, the prospects for reconciliation were less,
although the USG was not opposed. Zardari agreed that with
reconciliation "there was much less going on than meets the
eye."


5. (S/NF) Holbrooke said the media was responding to
President Karzai and UN Special Representative of the
Secretary General (SRSG) to Afghanistan Kai Eide's push to
engage the Taliban. Holbrooke added that Karzai wanted to
meet with the Taliban in SAUDI Arabia, but that SAUDI ARABIA
would not support such talks until the Taliban renounced
al-Qaeda. Zardari confirmed that SAUDI Intelligence Chief
Prince Muqrin bin Abdel Aziz had discussed the possibile
talks with him, but Prince Muqrin "would not guarantee" it
would happen. Holbrooke stressed the USG was not currently


***********************
* Missing Section 002 *
***********************



***********************
* Missing Section 003 *
***********************