Cablegate: Afghanistan Meets Pakistani Conditions for Aptta Round Four

VZCZCXRO7094
OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBUL #3391 2951248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221248Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2420
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KABUL 003391

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/FRONT OFFICE, SCA/A, AND EEB/BTA
DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL PK AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN MEETS PAKISTANI CONDITIONS FOR APTTA ROUND FOUR

REFS: Kabul 3306 and previous

1. (SBU) Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industries (MOCI)
Wahidullah Shahrani told Coordinating Director for Development and
Economic Affairs E. Anthony Wayne October 22 that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs would transmit a formal letter by close of business
that day inviting Pakistan to the fourth round of Afghanistan-
Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) talks. In addition, the
MFA will attach the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the
re-export/unauthorized trade study to the letter per Pakistan's
request.

2. (SBU) Shahrani said he spoke with Foreign Minister Spanta earlier
October 22 regarding the MFA's delay in transmitting the GIRoA
acceptance of the TOR. Shahrani also dispatched his senior trade
advisor to the MFA to facilitate the letter's transmission, with
MOCI supplying the draft text. The Commerce Ministry has proposed
November 10-11 or November 17-18 in Kabul as possible dates for the
fourth round of talks. Shahrani said the MFA will transmit the
letter both to the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and the Afghan Embassy
in Islamabad. Embassy Kabul will notify Washington upon
confirmation of transmission.

EIKENBERRY

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