US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI2158

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002158 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2015 
TAGS: PTER, AF, PK, TC 
SUBJECT: SUBJECT:  UAE UPSET OVER PUBLICITY OF COOPERATION 
WITH U.S. MILITARY IN PAKISTAN 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ahmed Al Musally, Director of the Asian and African 
Affairs Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
expressed his displeasure to the DCM on May 11th that some 
details of the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. military in 
Pakistan have become public.  Specifically, he complained 
that retired General Tommy Franks, former Commander of U.S. 
Central Command, mentioned in his book, "American Soldier" 
that U.S. forces had made use of Sheikh Zayed's private 
airstrip in Balochistan, Pakistan.  Al Musally said that this 
"leak" was brought to his attention by the UAE Ambassador in 
Pakistan, who sent him a 27 April article from the Pakistan 
daily, "The Nation."  The article criticizes the Pakistani 
Government for keeping secrets, and it applauds General 
Frank's openness in his book about the cooperation between 
Pakistan, the U.S., and other allies. 
 
2. (C) In his meeting with the DCM, Al Musally explained that 
the UAEG desires to keep details of the UAE cooperation with 
the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Pakistan confidential, 
because the Government is concerned that public 
acknowledgement of this assistance could pose risks to the 
UAE security within the UAE or to UAE officials in Pakistan. 
He noted that there are 500,000 to 600,000 Pakistanis 
residing in the UAE and that members of the UAE's ruling 
families frequently visit Pakistan for hunting.  "Maybe they 
can't do anything here, but they might try there (ie: 
Pakistan), especially when our leaders travel there." (Note: 
UAE Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of 
the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, and Deputy 
Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, 
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed were in Pakistan last week for 
bilateral meetings with Pakistani President Musharaf. End 
note.) 
 
3. (SBU) Ambassador met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Undersecretary Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi on May 14th and 
assured him that the Embassy would relay the UAEG's concerns 
regarding this matter to Washington. 
SISON