Cablegate: Afghanistan Transmits Tor for Study of Unauthorized Trade

VZCZCXRO1282
OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBUL #3441 3001411
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271411Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2515
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 8047
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KABUL 003441

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 TRANSMITS TOR FOR STUDY OF UNAUTHORIZED TRADE
STUDY TO PAKISTAN

REFS: Kabul 3391 and previous

1. (SBU) Afghan Foreign Minister Spanta confirmed to Deputy
Ambassador Ricciardone October 26 that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs had transmitted the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the study
of unauthorized trade to the Government of Pakistan earlier that
day. Spanta said "the misunderstanding was in my house," referring
to the MFA's refusal to transmit the TOR by Oct 22 as promised. The
Afghans, and we, hope that this action should enable the
Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement negotiations to
proceed.

2. (U) The Ministry of Commerce and Industries transmitted a signed
copy of the diplomatic note to Embassy Kabul on October 27.
Informal translation from the original Dari follows:

No. 1377
Date 04/08/1388 (October 26, 2009)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan presents its compliments to the Embassy of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan in Kabul and has the honor to inform the
Embassy that:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan proposes the dates 10-11 or 17-18 of November 2009 for
the fourth round in Kabul of Working Groups of both countries on the
Transit Trade Agreement.
In addition, please find attached the Terms of Reference (Joint
study of illegal trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan) which was
drafted by Pakistan. Afghanistan has reviewed it and submitted
additional proposed language.
We request that you forward this Terms of Reference to the relevant
authorities of your country and confirm their participation on the
fourth working group meeting to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
Complimentary closing

To: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Kabul
CC: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Islamabad
End informal translation.

EIKENBERRY

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