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S E C R E T PARTO 040902 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/30/2019 
TAGS: OVIP PREL AF PK
SUBJECT: Secretary Clinton's March 31, 2009 Conversation 
with Pakistani FM Qureshi 
 
Classified by: Kenneth H. Merten, Deputy Executive 
Secretary, S/ES, Department of State. Reason 1.4.(b,d) 
 
¶1. (U) March 31, 2009; 9:50 am; The Hague, 
Netherlands. 
 
¶2. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
Deputy Secretary Lew 
SRAP Holbrooke 
A/S Boucher 
Ms. Abedin, Dep. Chief of Staff to the Secretary 
Mr. Sullivan, Dep. Chief of Staff to the Secretary 
Mr. Falls (Embassy Notetaker) 
 
OTHER COUNTRY 
FM Qureshi 
Lt. Gen. Pasha, DG of Inter Service Intelligence 
Mr. Haroon, UN Permrep 
Mr. Chaudry, Ambassador to the Netherlands 
Mr. Shaukat, Secretary for Afghanistan and Economic 
Coordination 
Mr. Nasir Ali Khan, Ambassador at Large 
Mr. Sahebzada Khan, DG of FM's Office 
 
¶3. (U) SUMMARY. The Secretary and FM Qureshi reviewed 
Afghanistan, U.S aid and bilateral relations, 
counterterroism, and Pakistan's relations with India. 
They agreed to focus on a "work list" to implement the 
new strategy and to concentrate on better messaging. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
------------- 
Afghanistan 
------------- 
 
¶4. (C) The Secretary and FM Qureshi met on the margins 
of the March 31 Dutch-Afghan-UN conference on the 
Afghanistan in The Hague ("International Conference on 
Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional 
Context"). She thanked Qureshi for his participation 
and noted U.S. commitment to help the Pakistani people 
and promote security. 
 
¶5. (C) FM Qureshi responded that Pakistan is "by and 
large in agreement" with the new U.S. policy on 
Afghanistan and Pakistan -- there is a "great consonance 
of views." The regional approach is the right one, and 
U.S. efforts to use "smart power" are welcome. "You say 
'holistic' approach, we say '3D.'" Pakistan will work 
with the United States because "we are a smart and 
responsible nation" and also because it is in our own 
interest. There is now a greater consensus that we have 
to fight terror. The message of the President has given 
people hope. 
 
 
------------------------------ 
U.S. Aid and Bilateral Relations 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) The Secretary noted SRAP Holbrooke would 
represent the United States at the April 17 Pakistan 
conference in Tokyo. The United States wants to create 
a transparent aid process, and the President has asked 
for metrics to assess progress. The Secretary asked for 
help over the next two weeks to create a "work plan." 
The United States needs Pakistan's help to make the 
"best case" at the Tokyo conference. The United States 
can provide staff assistance if desired. The United 
States would not be passing judgment on any plans, but 
helping to promote it. We would like to translate 
funding into "results," as we do in Afghanistan, for 
example. Deputy Secretary Lew added that the U.S. 
Congress needs project details before it will approved 
funding. Other nations are also looking for details 
from the GoP. Congress will ask us to show results. 
 
¶7. (C) Qureshi noted the planned economic assistance, 
including Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, was "very 
welcome." In Islamabad, the GoP has shared needs with 
local diplomats. Qureshi designated a key contact at 
MFA to manage this issue. The MFA is planning a meeting 
in Abu Dhabi on April 1 to prepare for the Pakistan 
conference. Pakistan needed to work "9 to 5" on this. 
At the same time, showing immediate results in Pakistan 
will be different than in Afghanistan, because Pakistan 
has "weak institutions" rather than "no institutions." 
Nonetheless, we can show progress with approved 
legislation, the delivery of goods, improved capacity, 
and improvements in individual's daily lives. Qureshi 
urged further discussions. 
 
¶8. (C) Qureshi noted that the next step is to "improve 
our messaging." U.S. statements and the aid package 
have been a big help in improving the U.S. image in 
Pakistan. A visit by the Secretary, perhaps ahead of 
the Afghan elections, "would reassure people that we are 
friends, partners." We also need to engage and 
mobilize Pakistan's strong religious tradition against 
terrorism. We need to "project the correct image of 
Islam. Most Pakistanis are moderates, but we have not 
done enough to tap into this. We need a planned media 
campaign." He cited the need to build on Sufi 
traditions of moderate Islam. 
 
¶9. (C) The Secretary agreed "we have to work together to 
present" our message in support of security, democracy 
and prosperity for Pakistan. Pakistan can play a major 
role in the world. She welcomed advice on what 
motivates religious extremists and on how to isolate 
them. 
 
¶10. (C) On bilateral relations, Qureshi said there was 
 
 
a "trust deficit" between the two countries. Both 
sides should put any disagreements "on the table." The 
most recent meetings in Washington were helpful, and 
Qureshi is grateful the United States announced that 
consultations are part of an ongoing process. The 
Secretary responded that she wants to help close the 
"trust deficit." 
 
¶11. (C) Within Pakistan, Qureshi emphasized there is 
not "complete agreement" between the military and the 
government about what is good for Pakistan. Lt. Gen. 
Pasha's participation in the meeting reflects this 
"consonance of views." The Secretary responded that she 
wants help close any gaps between Pakistan's military 
and the GoP. 
 
---------------- 
Counterterrorism 
---------------- 
 
¶12. (S) General Pasha said that newspaper quotes from 
Washington undercut trust and made it harder to work 
together. Responding to SRAP Holbrooke, Lt. Gen. Pasha 
reported that about 90 individuals had been wounded, and 
8 killed in the attack on the police training center in 
Lahore. Most of the suicide bombers could not be 
identified from their remains. However, the GoP 
captured a fourth individual fleeing the scene and has 
identified him as an Afghan from Pachtia. Pasha will 
share more details, when available, with Embassy 
Islamabad. 
 
¶13. (S) Qureshi noted the attacks are timed to GoP 
international travel. Mumbai took place when he was 
traveling. Pasha added that Pakistan is now more 
focused on working with intelligence information and 
promised action against the Taliban leaders in Quetta. 
"We could do better if we share information ... good 
chance we could nab someone" if we work together. Pasha 
will visit his CIA counterpart and wants to renew 
bilateral commitments to work together. 
 
-------------------- 
Relations with India 
-------------------- 
 
 
¶14. (S) Responding to the Secretary about the status of 
the Mumbai prosecutions, Qureshi responded that "we 
intend to make progress" and that the two governments 
had recently exchanged additional information and 
promised action against Taliban leaders in Quetta. SRAP 
Holbrooke asked if the FM was meeting with Indian 
Special Envoy Lambah, who is key. Qureshi said Lambah 
sat with him during the Moscow conference on 
Afghanistan. 
CLINTON