VZCZCXRO6024
OO RUEHPW
DE RUEHNO #0062/01 0330849
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 020849Z FEB 07
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0432
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USJFCOM NORFOLK VA IMMEDIATE
RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0265
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0526
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0013
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 0012
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0343

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000062 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017 
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI PM AZIZ MEETS THE NAC: "WE ARE AN ANCHOR 
OF PEACE AND STABILITY" 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Victoria Nuland, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY.  In his first meeting with the North 
Atlantic Council, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz 
vigorously defended Pakistani actions against Al Qaeda and 
Taliban terrorists, and his nation's commitment to a 
peaceful, stable Afghanistan.  He asserted that Pakistan was 
"an anchor of peace and stability," that NATO and Pakistan 
share key strategic objectives, and that NATO is playing a 
key role in regional security.  Aziz acknowledged Pakistani 
shortcomings on border security and question marks 
surrounding the North Waziristan agreement, but also argued 
that Afghanistan and ISAF should do more on the Afghan side. 
 
¶2. (C) In a question and answer session with Ambassadors, 
Allied interventions were restrained, with most saluting 
Pakistani efforts in the GWOT and on the border, and seeking 
greater political dialogue between NATO and Pakistan.  Aziz, 
speaking beyond the confines of his initial script, and 
clearly expecting a tougher audience, vehemently denied 
Pakistani state institutions supported the Taliban, decried 
press briefings by Allied government officials that 
insinuated otherwise, and urged nations to raise concerns 
directly with the GOP.  He highlighted $350 million in 
Pakistani grant aid to Afghanistan, and urged greater, 
"Marshall Plan-type" aid from the international community. 
On mines and fences, he said that Pakistan would do selective 
fencing first, and had made no decisions on mining.  He also 
noted Pakistani intentions to empty two refugee camps this 
year in conjunction with Afghanistan and the UN, and in 
closing, invited the SYG and the NAC to Pakistan. 
Throughout, Aziz showed his best side to a NAC that knows 
very little about Pakistan, and set the stage for further 
developments in NATO-Pakistani political relations and 
military cooperation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------ 
An Upbeat Tour d,Horizon 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C) In his opening remarks, covered by the press, PM Aziz 
stated that NATO and Pakistan shared the same global 
objectives of peace, progress, and prosperity; stressed 
Pakistan's commitment to realizing a strong and stable 
Afghanistan; and reiterated his government's thanks for 
NATO's help to Pakistan following the tragic earthquake of 
October 2005.  SYG de Hoop Scheffer noted the critical role 
of Pakistan for ISAF and the region and called for closer 
NATO-Pakistani operational cooperation.  The SYG hailed this 
first-ever NAC meeting with a Pakistani Prime Minister as an 
example of constructive political dialogue, and highlighted 
the joint commitment of NATO and Pakistan to fighting 
terrorism. 
 
¶4.  (C) After the press left the room PM Aziz laid out the 
theme of his presentation to the NAC:  "Pakistan -- An Anchor 
of Peace and Stability."  Aziz (who read from a prepared 
statement) proceeded to give the NAC a thorough briefing on 
his view of NATO, democracy in Pakistan, Pakistan,s economy, 
relations with Afghanistan, Pakistan,s contributions to the 
war on terrorism, and actions to tackle border challenges. 
PM Aziz also offered a quick look at Pakistan,s relations 
with other major countries in the region. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
NATO Ensuring Peace and Security in Our Neighborhood 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Aziz told the NAC that Pakistan viewed NATO as an 
organization playing a key role to ensure peace and security, 
"not just in the north Atlantic, but also in our 
neighborhood."  In a riff he returned to repeatedly over the 
course of his remarks, the PM stressed that NATO and Pakistan 
share strategic interests, particularly the fight against 
terrorism and the struggle for peace and stability in 
Afghanistan.  He stated that Pakistan was a valuable partner 
 
USNATO 00000062  002 OF 004 
 
 
for NATO to face common challenges such as terrorism, WMD 
proliferation, regional conflicts, and the "deprivation" that 
bred extremism. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
Democracy and a Strong Economy Means a Stronger Partner 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶5.  (C) PM Aziz asserted that the Pakistani government was 
bringing democracy to the doorsteps of its people, pointing 
to the existence of opposition political parties, elections 
at a variety of levels, and flourishing privaized media as 
evidence of strong civil society. He stressed the 
government's commitment to economc, political, and social 
justice, highlighting eonomic reforms, impressive growth 
rates, and stes to empower women.  He outlined Pakistan's 
eforts to build the infrastructure necessary to serv as a 
geostrategic economic hub for Central Asia,Afghanistan, and 
western China, particularly in he areas of transport and 
pipelines.  He welcome the U.S. initiative to support 
Reconstruction Oportunity Zones, and asked European nations 
to spport this initiative, as well as Pakistan,s reques to 
the European Union for a free trade agreemen. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
CT, Border Issues, and Afghanistan Relations 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C PM Aziz stressed Pakistan's opposition to terroris in 
any form and contributions to the global waron terrorism, 
stating that Pakistan had sufferedmany casualties fighting 
al Qaeda and other extrmists in its territory.  He pointed 
to al Qaeda peratives killed and captured by Pakistan ("Al 
Qada,s back is broken"), and Pakistani contributionsto 
disrupting planned attacks around the globe. Aziz cited the 
Israel-Palestine dispute, the "wa in Iraq," and Kashmir as 
three sources of anger frustration, and deprivation that 
fueled terrorit recruitment.  He urged Allies not to blame 
Islm for terrorism bsed on the actions of a few misgided 
individuals, and praised President Musharra's policies of 
enlightened moderation. 
 
¶7.  (C Turning to the porous Afghanistan-Pakistan border,he 
stated that Pakistan had captured or killed oer 800 
Taliban/al Qaeda, and in his most pointedremarks, decried 
media reports and press briefins by "several nations around 
this table" for spreading baseless allegations of state 
support of the Taliban.  He urged NATO nations to talk 
directly to Pakistan, rather than through the press, and to 
increase cooperation, such as more real-time intelligence 
sharing.  He acknowledged that Taliban safehavens do exist 
among refugee camps, and that some extremist elements do 
reside in Pakistan, but challenged Allies frankly:  "don't 
assume we are saying one thing and doing something else."  e 
urged both Afghanistan and ISAF to pick up ther games in 
dealing with border issues on the Afghn side.  Aziz 
characterized President Musharraf's North Waziristan 
agreement as "misunderstood".  Assuring the NAC that the 
Pakistani government had neither abdicated control nor ruled 
out the use of force, he said the deal was an effort to 
involve tribal elders to promote peace and stop harmful 
border crossings both ways, and that the government was still 
evaluating its effectiveness.  Aziz also told Allies that 
Pakistan had decided on selective fencing of border areas, 
but would not move forward on mining at present. Finally, he 
laid out intentions to work with the Afghan government and 
the UN in repatriating refugees from two camps near the 
border back to Afghanistan over the coming months. 
 
¶8.  (C) Drawing the link with "western abandonment" of 
Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the USSR from 
Afghanistan, he expressed disbelief that one could argue 
Pakistan wanted Afghanistan to fail.  He told the NAC that 
when Afghanistan suffers, Pakistan suffers, and pointed to an 
extraordinary grant of $350 million of development aid to 
Afghanistan (Pakistan does not normally give foreign 
 
USNATO 00000062  003 OF 004 
 
 
assistance, he stated), plus rapidly increasing trade ties as 
evidence of the importance Pakistan places on a stable 
Afghanistan.  He welcomed Secretary Rice's recent 
announcement of an increase in U.S. assistance to 
Afghanistan, and called on Europe to do more, arguing for a 
"Marshall Plan-type" approach, aimed at winning Afghan hearts 
and minds.  Telling the NAC that NATO had gotten it partially 
right but still had more to do (as part of a "comprehensive 
approach" by the larger international community) he stressed 
the importance of curtailing the influence of Afghan warlords 
and drug barons.  Aziz labeled the nexus of drug money 
funding terrorism as a growing challenge, yet to be addressed 
adequately.  Finally, he informed Allies that he had recently 
appointed a jirga commission to look into the modalities of 
moving forward the proposal of cross-border jirgas. 
 
----------------------------- 
Pakistan,s Regional Relations 
----------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) PM Aziz offered Allies a quick view of Pakistan's 
relations with prominent regional actors.  He welcomed the 
continuing composite dialogue with India, and called for 
courage and flexibility in coming to a Kashmir settlement 
that respected the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris. 
Characterizing Pakistan's nuclear decisions over the past 
decades as responses to India in an effort to maintain a 
"minimal deterrence," he highlighted that Pakistan does not 
seek regional hegemony, and will not accept it from others. 
He praised Pakistan-China relations as a model strategic 
partnership.  While defending Iran's right to peaceful uses 
of nuclear energy under appropriate IAEA safeguards and 
international norms, he stated that Pakistan did not support 
a nuclear-armed Iran, and urged dialogue to resolve the 
problem without resorting to force that would further 
destabilize the regional situation.  He expressed concern 
over sectarian violence in Iraq and the threat to its 
territorial integrity, and urged greater action by the 
international community so that Iraq not "continue to be a 
breeding ground of terrorism."  Again pointing to the 
Israel-Palestinian conflict as a source of terrorism, he 
urged the U.S. and Europe to restart the peace process. 
 
------------------------------- 
Q's and A's, Plus an Invitation 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (C) Ambassador Nuland welcomed PM Aziz's appearance 
before the NAC as an "historic day."  She expressed 
condolences for recent Pakistani losses in Peshawar and 
Islamabad (as a result of recent suicide bombings), and told 
Aziz that Pakistan was a vital ally of the U.S. and other 
NATO nations in the war on terror both within Pakistan and 
globally.  She told the PM that our views aligned on the need 
for a comprehensive approach encompassing military, 
political, and economic facets, and that 2007 was a critical 
year for NATO, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to show progress. 
The Ambassador echoed the PM's call for greater cohesion of 
economic plans in Afghanistan, but noted it was needed on 
both sides of the border, to include the Federally 
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.  She stressed 
the importance the U.S. places on refugee issues, and 
reminded Allies of the financial challenges that will need to 
be addressed by the international community as part of any 
credible refugee resettlement plan.  She welcomed recent 
ISAF-PAKMIL cooperation in the Paktika province of 
Afghanistan that had resulted in numerous enemy forces 
killed, but noted the need to improve operational 
coordination further.  Finally, the Ambassador asked PM Aziz 
to consider more formally becoming a global partner of NATO, 
and to investigate possibilities to participate in joint 
training and greater political dialogue. 
 
¶11.  (C) The UK and Turkey joined Ambassador Nuland in 
welcoming this NAC meeting as an example of NATO's new 
approach to partnerships following Riga.  Those three, plus 
 
USNATO 00000062  004 OF 004 
 
 
Germany, welcomed greater practical cooperation between 
Pakistan and NATO, for example in select PfP activities. 
Several other issues emerged as common themes.  The 
Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, and France joined the U.S. 
discussed the need to tackle refugee resettlement.  The 
Netherlands, Turkey, Spain, Norway, also expressed interest 
in strengthening NATO's political dialogue with Pakistan. 
Turkey, Italy, Norway, the U.S., and Chairman of the Military 
Committee General Henault welcomed ISAF-Pakistan military 
cooperation in the Tripartite Commission.  France urged 
increased Pakistani attention to Taliban centers in Pakistan 
from which cross-border attacks are staged. 
 
¶12.  (C) PM Aziz welcomed the suggestion by Ambassador Nuland 
and others for greater political dialogue, and said he would 
task the issue appropriately in Islamabad.  Observing that 
most Ambassadors had probably never been to Pakistan, he 
invited the SYG and the NAC to Islamabad in the future. 
NULAND