DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO MINISTER SHERPAO ON

S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 011364 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PK SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO MINISTER SHERPAO ON FOREIGNERS IN MADRASSAS AND CAMPS REF: A. STATE 94597 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 3203 ¶C. STATE 61083 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) On June 13, Ambassador delivered Ref A demarche in a meeting with Interior Minister Sherpao. (The meeting also covered a broad range of others issues which are reported in septels.) ¶2. (S/NF) Minister Sherpao agreed to Ambassador's request to provide the USG with a comprehensive list of Amcits and citizens of other western nations attending Pakistani madrassas. He confirmed that he would include information on whether the madrassas being attended have extremist ties. ¶3. (S/NF) Minister Sherpao said that the Government of Pakistan had queried respective foreign governments on whether their nationals had permission to study in Pakistani madrassas. Students that had permission from their governments and only a few months of study remaining would be allowed to finished their coursework. Foreign students that did not have such permission were required to leave Pakistan immediately. Sherpao reported that, to date, 29 countries had responded to the GOP. Of the 1200 foreign students identified by the GOP, 457 had left Pakistan. ¶4. (SBU) Note. As reported in Ref B, the MFA passed a dip note to the Embassy in February asking for U.S. approval regarding the continued study of eight Amcits in Pakistani madrassas. Per Department instructions, the Embassy responded, via dip note dated May 11, that: "U.S. citizens do not require permission from the United States Government to travel or study abroad. The Embassy cannot give any 'approval/no objection' confirmations for these students nor can it provide any guarantees or assurances on behalf of U.S. citizens. The Embassy acknowledges that all private U.S. citizens are subject to local laws and the Embassy's role is to ensure that U.S. citizens are treated fairly in accordance with local laws." End note. CROCKER