US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA942

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Identifier:	05OTTAWA942
Wikileaks:	View 05OTTAWA942 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Ottawa
Created:	2005-03-31 18:00:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags:	PREL MASS PK IN CA PSA Arif Lalani
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, PK, IN, CA, PSA, Arif Lalani 
SUBJECT: CANADA INFORMED OF NEW SOUTH ASIA STRATEGY 
 
REF: STATE 55644 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
1. (SBU) As requested reftel, on March 29 polmiloff delivered 
the Fact Sheet on Broadening the U.S. strategic partnership 
with South Asia to Keith Fountain, Acting Director of the 
South Asia Division (PSA) at Foreign Affairs Canada. 
Fountain said that he normally handles Afghanistan policy and 
would be interested to hear more about the USG's evolving 
strategic relationship with the new government.  He indicated 
that he was not in a position to comment on the information 
regarding India and Pakistan, but undertook to share the Fact 
Sheet with the respective desk officers in his office. 
 
2. (SBU) Fountain explained that PSA Director Arif Lalani was 
on prolonged absence for mandatory language training the 
first four months of the year and that different officers 
were rotating into his position through the end of April.  As 
appropriate, post will report any subsequent 
comments/discussion with PSA staff regarding our new policy. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
DICKSON