32618  5/14/2005 9:00            05ABUDHABI2158    Embassy Abu Dhabi     CONFIDENTIAL                   "This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

"          "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

"