PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 016063

SIPDIS

DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO USAID
KABUL - PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PK MASS PGOV EAID AEMR ASEC NATO UN
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH
NATO ASSESSMENT DELEGATION

REF: ISLAMABAD 16025

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On October 25, Ambassador received USN VADM
Stufflebeam, commander of the NATO team visiting Islamabad to
coordinate NATO's earthquake relief deployment to Pakistan.
VADM Stufflebeam told Ambassador that he would only be on the
ground in Pakistan for the time necessary to conduct a
Commander's assessment of the situation. He said that NATO
has authorized an initial 90-day Rapid Response Force
deployment. NATO has already identified two hospital units
that can be deployed in support of earthquake relief: a
Netherlands unit now in Afghanistan, but not currently being
used by ISAF, and a Finnish unit. VADM Stufflebeam reviewed
the components of the NATO deployment, saying that Spain
would take the lead on light engineering, France on aviation
and Italy on maritime transport. He said that the Government
of Pakistan (GOP) has suggested that NATO operate out of the
Lahore air field. He also noted that the UN has solicited a
significant level of logistical support from the NATO
mission.


2. (C) In response to VADM Stufflebeam's question,
Ambassador discouraged locating the NATO operational center
outside Islamabad, although it might make sense for NATO's
air assets to work out of Lahore. The Ambassador described
the long time horizon for clearing many of the major roads in
northern Pakistan, which the U.S. has only begun to fully
appreciate as it prepares to deploy an engineering battalion
to restore the Neelum Valley road. He suggested that NATO
take on a similar high-impact engineering project.
Ambassador also alerted VADM Stufflebeam to Pakistani Army
Aviation's need for MI-17 parts and maintenance support.
Ambassador advised the NATO team to first become familiar
with the Pakistan military operations and CENTCOM's Disaster
Assistance Center - Pakistan (DAC-PAK) at Chaklala air field,
then call on Federal Relief Coordinator MG Farooq to
determine how NATO could support the GOP's operational
priorities. Noting that the proposed early deployment of two
hospitals would get the NATO mission off to a great start,
Ambassador underscored the importance of all donors staying
on point that we are here to support the GOP and people of
Pakistan through this crisis. The Admiral concured.
CROCKER