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RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3776
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0322
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 6064
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4874
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 003036 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON TBIO PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: DEEPENING U.S. PAKISTAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The first U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology 
Conference was held in Islamabad August 25 to 28, bringing together 
research scientists from the U.S. and Pakistan who have worked on 
projects funded by the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology 
Cooperation Agreement.  Under the 2003 agreement, 49 projects have 
been jointly funded by the U.S. and Pakistan at a combined cost of 
USD 17.9 million. Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology Adviser 
to the Secretary and USAID Administrator, led the U.S. delegation to 
the conference and met separately with Government of Pakistan (GOP) 
officials.  Multiple GOP ministries expressed interest in increasing 
science and technology (S&T) linkages with the U.S., including 
participating in the upcoming fourth round of S&T project selections. 
 End Summary. 
 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (SBU) The U.S.-Pakistan Joint Agreement on Science and Technology 
Cooperation was signed in 2003. The agreement was designed to create 
linkages between U.S. and Pakistani public and private science and 
technology institutes and to build capacity within the Pakistani 
scientific community to positively impact Pakistani society through 
science and technology projects.  During President Bush's March 2006 
visit to Pakistan, science and technology was included as one of the 
four pillars of the Strategic Dialogue.  A high-level committee was 
established, co-chaired by Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the U.S. 
National Science Foundation, and Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, head of 
Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) to further this 
dialogue.  There are currently sixteen working groups under the 
committee, designed to bring experts in multiple fields together to 
promote linkages and propose joint projects. In 2006, the Government 
of Pakistan (GOP) submitted a series of projects totaling USD 1.3 
billion for the consideration of the committee.  Due to U.S. funding 
constraints, little to no action was taken on many of the high-price 
Pakistani proposals. 
 
¶3. (SBU) A separate joint fund between the U.S. and Pakistan was 
established under the agreement to provide funding for collaborative 
projects between U.S. and Pakistani scientists.  Under the program, 
researchers from U.S. institutions partner with their Pakistani 
counterparts on research projects of mutual benefit to both 
countries.  Since 2004, 49 projects have been jointly funded by the 
U.S. and Pakistan at a combined cost of USD 17.9 million.  The U.S. 
has contributed USD 6.9 million to these projects and the GOP, USD 11 
million. Starting with the second round, U.S. funding was provided by 
USAID via the U.S. National Academies of Science, which also provided 
peer review and project oversight. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The third round ends USAID's formal commitment to the 
process.  Starting during the 2008 third round, State's Biosecurity 
Engagement Program (BEP), under the Bureau of International Security 
and Nonproliferation's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction 
(ISN/CTR), provided additional funding to the program.  BEP 
contributed USD 1.2 million for projects in 2008 and has allocated up 
to USD 5 million for the fourth round of projects, slated to be 
selected in 2009.  In support of BEP program objectives, a special 
call for proposals related to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity 
will be included in the fourth round.  Despite its formal departure 
from the program, USAID has committed USD 1 million to the upcoming 
fourth round of project selections if the GOP contributes matching 
U.S. funding.  Recognizing that current economic conditions may 
impact the GOP's ability to fully fund future joint projects, USAID 
has committed its funding as an added incentive to entice the GOP to 
fully match U.S. funding.  USAID views its pledged USD 1 million 
support as a way to help the Ministry of Science and Technology and 
Higher Education Commission argue for and justify making a 
contribution to the partnership. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Despite limited U.S. resources available for S&T 
cooperation, the Department has been able to include programs funded 
from other sources under the umbrella of the S&T Agreement.  BEP 
funding, estimated at around USD 8 million in fiscal year 2008 and an 
estimated USD 12 million in fiscal year 2009, is included in this 
category. In addition, the Department has defined State Economic 
Bureau's pilot telemedicine project and a proposed U.S. Geological 
Survey and Naval Research Lab geophysical survey as part of expanded 
U.S.-Pakistan science and technology cooperation. 
 
2008 U.S.-PAKISTAN S&T CONFERENCE 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶6. (SBU) The first U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology Conference 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003036  002 OF 003 
 
 
was held in Islamabad August 25 to 28, bringing together research 
scientists from the U.S. and Pakistan to present their work and 
identify future partnerships and linkages.  The conference marked the 
first time that many of the collaborators had met in person to 
discuss their research.  Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology 
Adviser to the Secretary of State and to the USAID Administrator led 
the U.S. delegation and keynoted the conference.  Stressing the 
importance of education and research, Dr. Fedoroff opined that 
science will be essential to address the myriad global environmental, 
health and energy issues facing the planet today. 
 
¶7. (SBU) While in Islamabad, Dr. Fedoroff met with GOP officials to 
discuss the future of U.S.-Pakistan science and technology 
cooperation.  Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Secretary 
Sharif Ahmed described scientific research as the "most vital area of 
Pakistan's economic development" and called for future partnerships 
to focus on the commercial aspects of research and development. 
Ahmed described energy and agriculture as Pakistan's two most 
pressing needs, urging greater collaboration between U.S. research 
and development entities, including multinational corporations, and 
their Pakistani counterparts.  He highlighted technology transfer as 
key to any future commercial science partnerships.  MOST officials 
are eager to continue their participation in the U.S.-Pakistan S&T 
Agreement and requested expanded biosecurity and bioengagement 
cooperation with State's Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) to 
strengthen laboratory infrastructure. 
 
¶8. (SBU) In an August 27 meeting with Ministry of Environment 
officials, Additional Secretary Ishtaik Ahmed Khan reported that the 
GOP wants U.S. assistance and expertise, particularly in the field of 
biotechnology and the formulation of regulations for genetically 
modified organisms.  Khan stated that there are many GOP concerns 
with respect to health, environment and science, all of which could 
benefit from U.S experience and support.  However, the GOP, and 
Ministry of Environment in particular, lacks the resources and 
expertise to adequately address these challenges.  The Ministry is 
also eager to promote projects related to clean water resources, 
toxic and industrial waste management, energy conservation and forest 
management.  Additional Secretary Khan would like to work with the 
U.S. to advance Pakistan's environmental needs and is eager for the 
Ministry's research and development proposals to be included among 
the next round of U.S.-Pakistan S&T projects. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Higher Education Chairman Atta-ur-Rahman, who also serves as 
co-chair of the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology Committee, 
expressed interest in broadening the U.S.-Pakistan S&T agreement to 
support educational capacity development, including vocational 
training and the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation.  In an 
August 26 meeting with Dr. Fedoroff, Dr. Rahman requested greater 
U.S. assistance in upgrading Pakistan's research and development 
(R&D) agencies through institutional linkages, financial aid and 
training.  Overall, Dr. Rahman was interested in gaining U.S. support 
for activities that encourage economic growth and asked that U.S. 
funding for the U.S.-Pakistan S&T Agreement be augmented and utilize 
both BEP and USAID funding. 
 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
¶10. (SBU) Our interlocutors are unanimous in their desire for 
expanded science and technology cooperation with the U.S.  They 
believe U.S. expertise is the best way to address the myriad of 
health, agricultural, environmental and biosafety challenges facing 
Pakistan.  The nature of our S&T interaction has been collaborative 
thus far; Pakistani financial support to the joint projects has 
exceeded U.S. support.  Our GOP partners continue to be disappointed 
with the level of U.S. participation and would like greater financial 
support.  The 2003 Science and Technology Agreement was designed as 
an umbrella under which multiple U.S. agencies could collaborate with 
their Pakistani counterparts on a wide range of projects.  To date, 
S&T cooperation is limited to include only the three rounds of 
jointly funded projects and a handful of independent projects pulled 
under the umbrella of the joint agreement.  Funding from State's 
Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) is beneficial to the overall 
level of S&T cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan and has 
prolonged the life of the S&T joint projects.  However, BEP cannot be 
the only source of support.  Additional funding and technical 
capacity from a wide range of U.S. agencies that work on fields 
related to science and technology are needed to ensure the continuity 
of this "bright spot" in the bilateral relationship.  End Comment. 
 
¶11. (U) This message has been cleared by the Office of the Science 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003036  003 OF 003 
 
 
and Technology Adviser and by ISN/CTR. 
 
PATTERSON