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FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6749
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4204
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4962
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8510
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0742
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7811
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3192
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9645
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5394
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4131
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 001719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER AF CH EAID IN MY EU
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL LEADERS FLOCK TO ISLAMABAD 
 
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 1699 
     ¶B. ISLAMABAD 1684 
 
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: In the past few weeks, international leaders 
have been streaming into Pakistan to meet the newly elected 
government.  They included UK Foreign Secretary Miliband, the 
Chinese FM Jiechi, Turkish FM Babacan, EU Foreign Policy 
Chief Solana, Afghanistan FM Spatna, Malaysian FM Yatim, 
Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora and Iranian President 
Ahmadinijad.  Indian External Affairs Minister Parnab 
Mukherjee is due in Islamabad on May 21 to conclude the 4th 
Round of the Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue.  End summary. 
 
UK's Miliband 
------------- 
 
¶2. (C) UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited April 
20-22.  According to the UK Embassy, Miliband found Musharraf 
to be disengaged from politics and PM Gillani overwhelmed by 
his new duties.  The UK was impressed by FM Qureshi's grasp 
of his portfolio so far.  The most interesting event was a 
dinner with both Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chair Asif 
Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif. 
Sharif reportedly was reluctant to go to the UK residence but 
changed his mind when told Zardari had already accepted the 
invitation.  Atmospherics between Zardari and Nawaz were 
reportedly good, except on the issue of restoring the deposed 
judiciary, where there was noticeable tension.  Miliband also 
met in Peshawar with a wide range of officials, including 
Governor Ghani (who focused on military strategy) and Awami 
National Party leader Asfundyar Wali Khan. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Despite some headlines indicating the UK supported 
negotiations with the Taliban, Miliband stuck to a 
counter-terrorism position close to that of the USG--the need 
for a multi-pronged political/developmental/security approach 
and reconciliation with those who are willing to be 
reconciled.  He stressed: "Reconciliation does not mean 
creating a safe space for terrorists.  Reconciliation means 
dividing those ideologically committed to waging war...from 
those who are able to play by the constitutional rules..." 
Privately, the UK Embassy reported that Miliband warned 
Asfundyar reconciliation that merely pushed terrorists back 
across the Afghan border was not helpful; neither Pakistan 
nor Afghanistan could afford to continue this game of 
"ping-pong." 
 
¶4.  (C)  The GOP asked the UK for increased assistance on 
education, health and police training.  The UK is exploring 
ways to help improve the distribution of food to eliminate 
waste and mismanagement.  Miliband raised UK opposition to 
releasing A.Q. Khan; Miliband's sense was that Nawaz wanted 
to improve Khan's situation in some way.  Miliband also urged 
the GOP to agree to begin negotiations on the Fissile 
Material Cutoff Treaty; like us, they were rebuffed. 
 
Pak/China Visits 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (C) MFA China Director Arshad Jan Pathan, who accompanied 
President Musharraf on his April 10-15 trip to China, 
described the visit as relatively low key.  Musharraf signed 
8-10 agreements focused on education, sports and cultural 
exchanges, and renewed pledges to increase bilateral trade 
from $6.5 billion to $15 billion by 2010.  Musharraf asked 
the Chinese to begin work on a feasibility study for rail 
links from the border down to the Chinese-built port of 
Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, and there was discussion of 
expanding fiber optic links as well.  Overall, Pathan said 
China provides project assistance only, not cash.  The usual 
formula is for Pakistan to provide a feasibility study; the 
Chinese respond with a project implemented by a Chinese 
company with Chinese labor. 
 
¶6. (C) Pathan reported that through their Joint Economic 
Committee, the Chinese were engaged on several feasibility 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001719  002 OF 004 
 
 
studies of wind, hydro and thermal power; this was part of 
their joint five-year development framework agreement.  He 
denied the Chinese were building a new power plant but said 
that work on the C-2 Chashma power plant would be completed 
next year; Pathan added, "this is not a nuclear power plant." 
 FM Jiechi told the press April 25 that China was interested 
in possibly participating in the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline 
project; Pathan dismissed this as speculation. 
 
¶7. (SBU) During his visit to China, Musharraf spoke at the 
Boao Forum for Asia. He called for the two countries to 
remove trade barriers and share expertise--involving both the 
private and public sectors--on environmental and energy 
efficiency. 
 
¶8. (C) Pathan confirmed Musharraf discussed ongoing defense 
cooperation, including the launch of four F22P frigates in 
Shanghai during his visit to China.  Without providing 
details, Pathan said joint production of JF-17 fighter 
aircraft and refurbished Al Khalid tanks were also discussed. 
 
¶9. (C) In a first-ever visit of a Pakistani President to the 
Xinjiang border province, Musharraf discussed 
expansion/upgrades to the Karakorum highway that links the 
two countries.  Pathan denied press reports that the Chinese 
asked Musharraf for assistance in combating Islamic terrorism 
in the province. 
 
¶10. (SBU) During his visit, Musharraf reiterated his full 
support for the "One China Policy," which details the return 
of Taiwan to the mainland and the rejection of secessionism, 
separatism, and terrorism.  Musharraf also restated his 
position that Tibet is a part of China and should be handled 
by Beijing as an internal affair, free from foreign 
interference. 
 
¶11. (C) Pathan said the topic of terrorism arose during the 
April 25-26 follow-on visit of  Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi 
to Islamabad.  This visit, said Pathan, was prescheduled and 
was not connected to Musharraf's trip. At the conclusion of 
the visit, Jiechi thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi for 
Pakistan's "valuable support" in effectively dealing with the 
East Turkestan Islamic Movement and the Xinjian-based Uighur 
separatist movement. Pathan said the Pakistani and Chinese 
Ministries of Interior had held talks on terrorism and 
reviewed the special committee established by Islamabad to 
provide increased security for Chinese workers in Pakistan. 
Qureshi reportedly agreed to buy unspecified anti-terrorism 
equipment from China. 
 
Turkey's Babacan 
---------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited April 
19-22. During a meeting with Foreign Minister Qureshi, 
Babacan discussed defense co-production and pledged to 
enhance trade relations by increasing bilateral trade to $1 
billion within two years.  After their meeting, both 
counterparts gave a press conference announcing their 
"complete consensus on every issue." Babacan emphasized 
Turkey's "solidarity" with Pakistan and their support for 
Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Qureshi and Babacan agreed to continue strategic 
dialogue at the foreign minister level. The Pakistan-Turkey 
Joint Working Group is scheduled to meet in May and will be 
followed by a second Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey tri-partite 
summit, intended to reduce tension between Pakistan and 
Afghanistan.  During his visit, Babacan also met with 
President Musharraf, Prime Minister Gillani, and PPP co-chair 
Asif Zardari. 
 
¶14. (SBU) On April 21 the Pakistani and Turkish Air Forces 
began a 10-day joint military exercise called "Indus Viper." 
Turkey provided five F-16 aircraft and 50 airmen for the 
exercise. 
 
EU's Solana 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001719  003 OF 004 
 
 
----------- 
 
¶15. (SBU)  In a first-ever visit by the EU's Foreign Policy 
Chief, Javier Solana visited April 22.  Solana promoted 
closer cooperation between the EU and Pakistan's new 
government, with emphasis on Pakistan's economic development 
and regional peace and stability.  Solana said the EU 
supported reconciliation efforts with militants but 
emphasized the EU would not accept talks with Al Qaeda. 
Solana also told local press President Musharraf would retain 
his position until he retires.  During his visit, Solana met 
with President Musharraf, Prime Minister Gillani, Foreign 
Minister Qureshi, Zardari, Sharif, and Asfundyar Wali Khan. 
(Note:  Post increasingly is hearing reports that, following 
the return of civilian rule to Pakistan, EU interest in 
development and military assistance is growing.  Our 
challenge will be to coordinate efforts to avoid duplicative 
project aid.  End Note.) 
 
Afghanistan's Spanta 
-------------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta 
visited April 22-24. On April 23, Spanta met with FM Qureshi 
to discuss counterterrorism, dialogue with militants, 
economic cooperation, counter-narcotics, and the repatriation 
of Afghan refugees. The Ministers also agreed to hold the 
Third Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on 
Afghanistan. 
 
¶17. (SBU) Spanta and Qureshi expressed mutual satisfaction 
with the results of the August 2007 Joint Peace Jirga and 
decided the process should be reinvigorated, resulting in a 
second Joint Peace Jirga. Qureshi promised Spanta Pakistan 
would soon nominate members to sit on the bilateral Jirga 
Board.  (Note: One of the key recommendations from the August 
2007 Peace Jirga was the formation of a jirga board 
consisting of 25 prominent members from each country to 
expedite implementation of jirga recommendations and 
facilitate the next jirga. Afghanistan had nominated members 
but Pakistan had not finalized a list of members because of 
the domestic political situation. End Note.)  During his 
visit, Spanta also met with President Musharraf, Prime 
Minister Gillani, and National Assembly Speaker Fahmida 
Mirza. 
 
Malaysia's Yatim 
---------------- 
 
¶18. (SBU) Malaysia's Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Rais Yatim, 
on April 19 discussed increasing bilateral trade and 
welcoming Pakistan back into the Commonwealth. (Note: 
Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth November 27 
following Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency. 
End Note.)  Yatim told FM Qureshi that Malaysia, which is the 
acting chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group 
(CMAG), believed Pakistan had fulfilled the basic conditions 
for re-entry into the Commonwealth. (Note: A decision is 
scheduled for May 12, 2008 during the next CMAG meeting in 
London.) 
 
Pipeline Talks 
-------------- 
 
¶19. (SBU) Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora visited Islamabad 
April 24-25 to discuss with Pakistan Petroleum Minister 
Khawaja Muhammad Asif two cross-border gas pipeline 
projects--the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) 
gas pipeline project and the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas 
pipeline project. Deora will return to Pakistan in mid-May to 
continue negotiations on the TAPI and IPI. Meetings between 
the two energy ministers will be followed the same week by 
talks concluding the 4th Round of the Pakistan/India 
Composite Dialogue.  (Note: Although this round of the 
Composite Dialogue informally ended in November 2007, India 
chose to delay the official conclusion until Pakistan elected 
its new government. End Note.) Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv 
Shankar Menon will travel to Islamabad on May 20 to meet with 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001719  004 OF 004 
 
 
Pakistan's new Foreign Secretary, Salman Bashir, to review 
the 4th Round's progress. On May 21, the Indian External 
Affairs Minister Parnab Mukherjee will meet with Foreign 
Minister Qureshi. 
 
¶20. (C) See REF A for information on the visit of the Iranian 
President and their talks on the same subject. 
PATTERSON