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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017 
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL MARR PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI PM AZIZ DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, MIL-MIL 
TIES WITH NATO SYG JANUARY 30 
 
REF: NATO 0062 
 
USNATO 00000071  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b), (d). 
 
¶1. (SBU) NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer 
distributed to Allies a report on his discussions with 
Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz on January 30 preceding Aziz's 
meeting with the NAC (REFTEL). 
 
¶2. (C) Text of SYG's Report SG(2007)0095 follows.  Note 
internal numbering.  Begin text: 
 
(1) I met the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz for 
a short bilateral call prior to the meeting with the North 
Atlantic Council.  He presented his views in an open and 
frank fashion and covered the same points as during his 
address to the Council. 
 
(2) The Prime Minister articulated his view for a 
"progressive, democratic, vibrant and Muslim Pakistan seen as 
an anchor of stability in South Asia", a country which should 
therefore be seen as a partner of the international community 
in the region. 
 
(3) Regarding Afghanistan, he referred to his recent meeting 
with President Karzai and regretted public finger-pointing as 
unfair.  He noted that Pakistan had to deal with a 2,640 KM 
porous border and 3 million Afghan refugees being sheltered 
in Pakistan.  He had personally taken a number of measures 
starting with the deployment of more than 80,000 troops to 
guard the border and the introduction of new measures 
including biometric IDs to monitor cross border movements. 
He also insisted on the need to develop a more coherent 
strategy to build up Afghanistan.  He noted that his country, 
as a traditionally non-aid giving country, had however 
invested in different development programmes. 
 
(4) On Afghanistan I briefed my interlocutor on the recent 
Ministerial Meeting recalling NATO's clear commitment towards 
Afghanistan.  A concerted effort of the international 
community, the UN and the EU was needed to win the hearts and 
minds of the Afghans on the ground, highlighting that a sole 
military response would not be sufficient.  I also thanked 
the Pakistani government for its efforts to stem cross border 
activities, and stressed that a joint and a combined effort 
of NATO, the Afghan National Army as well as the Pakistani 
authorities was required to successfully address the problem. 
 
(5) In PM's view, Pakistan could not be accused of playing a 
double game vis--vis Afghanistan, as it had all to gain from 
having a stable neighbour, pointing among other things to the 
severe casualties suffered by the Pakistani Army, the drug 
trafficking and the terrorist activities which could in turn 
destabilise his own country as demonstrated by the numerous 
terrorist attacks perpetrated in Pakistan. 
 
(6) He stated that public accusations in the media had been 
largely counterproductive and I agreed that we should all 
refrain from commenting publicly on operational issues. 
Commenting on the situation in Quetta, he was of the view 
that it was difficult to control some 600,000 refugees and 
recognised that the camps there, as well as around Peshawar 
were breeding grounds for terrorist movements.  He was well 
aware of the situation which was one of the main reasons for 
the appointment of a new Police Chief of the Provincial 
district.  He also advocated for a coordinated approach to 
promote the return of refugees.  I echoed his point insisting 
on greater involvement of the UNHCR. 
 
(7) The Prime Minister viewed drug production as an intrinsic 
feature of insecurity and as the major source for terrorist 
funding.  Taking example of his own country's experience, he 
invited the IC to take drastic measures.  I recognised the 
importance of the problem but insisted that the Afghan 
authorities were in the driving seat. 
 
(8) Finally, regarding NATO-Pakistan cooperation, the Prime 
Minister explained that Pakistan was grateful for the NATO 
contribution to the relief operation which was "now viewed as 
 
USNATO 00000071  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
one of the most successful operations."  He announced that 
his country was ready to conclude the agreement with NATO on 
the Lines of Communication.  He was also grateful regarding 
the enhanced mil-to-mil cooperation and the Tripartite 
Commission and he conveyed the Chief of Defence Staff's 
gratitude for NATO's opening of various courses. 
 
(9) I welcomed the establishment of close mil-to-mil 
relations through the ISAF liaison arrangements in Islamabad 
and the Tripartite Commission.  I stressed that enhanced 
mil-to-mil exchanges needed to be matched with enhanced 
political dialogue.  I also thanked for his announcement 
regarding the completion of the transit agreement.  He 
invited me to visit Pakistan and I accepted this invitation. 
 
¶3. (U) End text. 
NULAND