REQUEST FROM GOP TO BAN TRAVEL BY ALLEGED BLA

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 018929 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016 TAGS: CVIS PGOV PHUM PK PREL PTER SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM GOP TO BAN TRAVEL BY ALLEGED BLA SUPPORTERS REF: A. ISLAMABAD 17594 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. ISLAMABAD 17548 AND PREVIOUS ¶C. 05 ISLAMAMBAD 19491 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This cable contains action requests; please see para. 8. ¶2. (SBU) On September 14, the Consular Section received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) presenting a list of 80-some individuals that the Government of Pakistan (GOP) asserts are connected to the Balochistan National Army (BLA). (Note: Full text of the note follows, below; post will email SCA/PB and CA/VO/L/C a copy of the list that accompanied the note verbale. End note.) The MFA note requests that the USG not issue visas to the listed individuals for travel to the U.S.; that the individuals be placed on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) watch lists; that U.S. visas previously issued to any listed individual be canceled; and that any listed individual currently in the U.S. be repatriated to Pakistan. The note states that the GOP will not take responsibility for actions committed abroad by any listed individuals who are issued a visa, whose visa is not canceled or who is not repatriated to Pakistan. Neither the note nor the list provides any specific information as to the activities of these individuals that constitute support for terrorism; the list notes only that all individuals listed have been charged with "anti-state/terrorist activities." ¶3. (C) As reported septel, the GOP has been particularly focused on the nationalist insurgency in Balochistan since late 2005. (Ref A and B) Pakistani security forces have aggressively pursued nationalist fighters, most dramatically in the security operations that led to the death of Nawab Aktar Bugti Khan on August 26. (Ref C) The GOP's security operations in Balochistan have been accompanied by well-documented reports from human rights activists of disappearances, reprisals, property seizures and other human rights violations against nationalist politician, Baloch journalists and extended family members of nationalist fighters. ¶4. (C/NF) Post is also aware that in July, at the request of the GOP, the UK designated the BLA as a terrorist organization and imposed travel restrictions on persons associated with the BLA. Officers from the British High Commission (BHC) in Islamabad have told post that the GOP, particularly the Director General of Military Operations, was exerting considerable pressure on the UK to proceed with the BLA designation. BHC officers explained that the designation process in the UK is not/not subject to the extensive analysis and documentation required under U.S. law, and that the designation was undertaken primarily so that the UK could take legal action against Baloch student and nationalist organizations and websites believed to be raising funds to support the insurgency. These officers could offer no specific insight into the composition, leadership or organization of the BLA. ¶5. (C) In recent years, the GOP has blamed the BLA for terrorist bombings in Punjab and Sindh Provinces, as well as acts of sabotage against infrastructure and government-sponsored development projects in Balochistan. While these acts of violence have undeniably occurred, post has yet to encounter a political observer in Pakistan who can give shape to the BLA as an entity. Its leadership and organization are unknown. Most of post's interlocutors suggest that there is no organized entity as such; they posit that the BLA is a nom-de-guerre used by nationalist fighters from the Marri tribe when convenient. ¶6. (S/NF) In light of the atmosphere described above, Post has initiated an internal review of the individuals on the ISLAMABAD 00018929 002 OF 002 GOP list, virtually of whom are already on Pakistan's Exit Control List. The names fall into the following categories: -- Persons involved in armed insurrection against the GOP (8 individuals - Nawabzada Brahamdagh Khan Bugti, Mir Ali Bugti, Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, Gazin Marri, Mir Hair Bayar Marri, Balaach Marri, Zamran Marri, and Jumma Khan) -- Persons about whom the Embassy would require additional information to determine connection to violence arising from the nationalist insurgency (6 individuals -- Shahzain Bugti, Agha Shahid Bugti, Murtaza Bugti, Mir Chakkar Bugti, Hamza Marri and Chengez Marri) -- Persons who appear to be listed for purely political purposes or who are unknown to post (approx 66 individuals) ¶7. (S/NF) Post has confirmed that seven of the eight individuals known to be directly involved in nationalist violence have already been entered in State/DHS systems via the Visas Viper system. (Note: The one exception is Mir Hair Bayar Marri. End note.) Post is in the process of determining whether any other listed individual has already been entered into State/DHS systems. Pending receipt of guidance from the Department, post is prepared to request additional information on the eight individuals for links to the nationalist insurgency. As to the remaining names on the MFA list, post recommends that no/no action be taken with regard to the issuance/revocation of visas or other measures to restrict travel to the U.S. ¶8. (C/NF) Action Requests: Post requests Department guidance on appropriate response to the MFA note. Post would appreciate WashDC agencies' assessment of the BLA and whether it actually constitutes a terrorist organization. Post also requests analysis from WashDC agencies on the UK decision to designate the BLA as a terrorist organization, as well as the legal and practical effects of that designation. ¶9. (SBU) Text of the September 13 MFA note verbale: (Begin text.) No. USA-2/5/06 13 September 2006 The Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Islamabad and has the honour to enclose herewith a consolidated list (page 1-60 of Pakistani nationals who are on the adverse notice list for their connections with the Balochistan National Army, which is a banned organization in Pakistan and in the United Kingdom as well. The Government of Pakistan suggests that the individuals in the enclosed list may not be issued visas to travel to the United States and should be placed on the United States Homeland Security List. If these individuals are already in possession of visas issued by the United States, their visas should be revoked. Furthermore if these individuals are already in the United States they should be repatriated to Pakistan. The Ministry has the honour to further state that the Government of Pakistan would not take any responsibility for the actions committed abroad by the individuals in the attached list with respect to: (i) individuals who are issued visas; (ii) individuals whose visas have not been revoked; or (iii) those individuals who are already in the United States have not been repatriated to Pakistan. The Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the united States of America in Islamabad the assurances of its highest consideration. (End text.) BODDE