US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD16005

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 016005 
 
SIPDIS 
 
KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, MASS, PREL, AF, PK, Earthquake 
SUBJECT: KARZAI CONDOLENCE VISIT TO PAKISTAN OCTOBER 24 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 15862 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER.  REASONS: 1.4(B)(D) 
 
1.  (C) Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a brief visit to 
Pakistan October 24 to express condolences and support for 
Pakistan in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake. 
Afghan Ambassador Tarzi told us that from his perspective, 
the visit went very well.  Karzai first met with Musharraf 
who expressed his appreciation for helicopter support and a 
medical team from Afghanistan.  Musharraf also said that 
Pakistan hoped to benefit from Afghanistan's expertise in 
managing a massive reconstruction effort with international 
assistance.  The two leaders then discussed their remarkably 
similar and largely negative views of NGOs and their agenda, 
which Tarzi said may not have been overly helpful as Pakistan 
looks to international assistance but served to strengthen 
the personal rapport between the two.  Karzai emphasized his 
visit was a show of solidarity and support, and he and 
Musharraf agreed that Karzai would return after the Eid 
holiday for broader-ranging discussions. 
 
2.  (C) Karzai subsequently saw Prime Minister Aziz who 
emphasized that a strong, stable Afghanistan was at the top 
of Pakistan's regional priorities.  He stressed in particular 
the importance of the economic relationship, noting that when 
he had visited Kabul as finance minister and predicted 
bilateral trade at the $1 billion level, he had been greeted 
with considerable skepticism.  Trade now exceeds $1.2 
billion.  When the discussion veered over into NGOs, Aziz 
provided something of an antidote noting that they could be 
an annoyance but also played a crucial role in mobilizing and 
sustaining international support.  Tarzi said that Karzai and 
Aziz had a 30-minute one-on-one; he did not have a readout. 
 
3.  (C)  Aziz accompanied Karzai back to the airport and 
joined him for a brief meeting with the Afghan helo crews and 
medical teams, with a huge gaggle of Pakistani media in tow. 
Tarzi said that Karzai had been especially appreciative of 
this gesture, and predicted it would have a very favorable 
impact in Afghanistan. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  This was a good gesture by Karzai, well 
received and reciprocated by the Pakistani leadership.  It 
adds further momentum to our combined efforts to get this 
important relationship back on an even keel. 
CROCKER