US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD15862

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 015862 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
KABUL - PLEASE PASS TOP CFC-A 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PK, PGOV, AF, Earthquake 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE:  KARZAI TO MAKE CONDOLENCE 
VISIT 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 15769 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM Patricia A. Butenis, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C)  On October 21, the Afghan Embassy confirmed to post 
that AfghQsident Karzai plans to make a short condolence 
visit to Pakistan on Monday, October 24.  According to Afghan 
Ambassador Tarzi, President Karzai will call on President 
Musharraff and PM Aziz, followed by a press event.  The 
Pakistani MFA confirmed to post that a Karzai visit is in the 
works, but could not confirm the October 24 date.  In 
addition to preparing for this brief half-day visit, the 
Afghan Embassy is waiting for the Goverment of Pakistan (GOP) 
to propose a date for a longer official visit by President 
Karzai after Ramadan.  (Note:  Ambassador Tarzi attributed 
the delay in fixing a date for this longer visit to the 
government's attention being focused on earthquake relief, 
rather than to any reluctance by the GOP to receive the 
Afghan delegation.  End note.) 
 
2.  (C)  Karzai would be the third head of state to visit 
Pakistan to offer condolences following the October 8 
earthquake, following visits by King Abdullah of Jordan 
(October 16) and PM Erdogan of Turkey (October 20-21). 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  If the October 24 meeting visit occurs, it 
will be the first Musharraf-Karzai meeting since President 
Karzai's visit to Islamabad in March 2005.  Although personal 
relations between the two presidents have been strained since 
then, this visit is a sign that the atmosphere is continuing 
to warm following a Karzai-Musharraf telephone conversation 
earlier this month. 
CROCKER