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