VZCZCXRO3881
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0418 0291249
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291249Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4708
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2713
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 8092
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 7136
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 2924
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8767
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4681
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3357
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ENRG ECON EFIN EINV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  GOP REQUESTS NEW DATE FOR ENERGY DIALOGUE DISCUSSIONS IN 
WASHINGTON 
 
REFS:  Department of Energy Letter to the GOP dated October 25, 2007 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para five. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
GOP Requests New Date for Discussion with USG on Energy 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY. In response to a letter dated October 25, 
2007 from Karen A. Harbert, Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of 
Policy and International Affairs, the GOP has again formally 
requested that a new date be selected for the bilateral Strategic 
Dialogue Energy Discussions originally proposed for January 30, 2008 
in Washington DC. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In response to Embassy requests, Mansoor Khan, 
Director for Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs relayed that 
the DOE proposed date of January 30, 2008 for bilateral energy 
discussion in Washington would not be feasible due to the upcoming 
February 18 national elections in Pakistan. He suggested that a new 
date be proposed by the USG so that the talks can be carried out 
shortly after the new government is installed. 
 
¶4. (SBU) A letter dated October 25, 2007 from Karen A. Harbert, 
Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Policy and International 
Affairs was sent to Mr. Muktar Ahmed, Advisor to the Prime Minister 
on Energy via email. The Embassy wishes to advise that Mr. Ahmed is 
no longer serving as the Prime Minister's energy advisor and has 
moved from Pakistan. 
 
-------------- 
Action request 
-------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Action request:  Post requests the DOE and State 
coordinate to set a new date for the Energy Dialogue discussions and 
suggests that a target date be on or about the first week of April. 
The MFA and Post believe that the newly appointed ministers involved 
in energy policy will be in place and this will allow sufficient time 
to process visas. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Pakistan is facing a desperate energy crisis and 
seeks closer ties with Iran through a pipeline to solve their energy 
crunch.  If the USG is to have any opportunity to present any 
alternative to the Iran pipeline deal, closer coordination and policy 
planning with the USG is desperately needed to mitigate the worsening 
energy shortages.  The Energy Dialogue poses the best opportunity to 
address energy issues at a high coordinating level.  Post requests 
that a new date be conveyed as soon as possible. End action request. 
 
PATTERSON