GOP REQUESTS REPATRIATION OF GTMO AND BAGRAM

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 022026 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 TAGS: KAWC PK PREL PTER SUBJECT: GOP REQUESTS REPATRIATION OF GTMO AND BAGRAM DETAINEES REF: A. STATE 148119 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 20385 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This cable contains action requests; please see paragraphs 4 and 5. ¶2. (C) In early November, POL received a copy of an MFA note verbale dated 12 October 2006 requsting the repatriation of six (6) Paksitani nationals currently in custody in the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, as well as those Pakistani nationals currently in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, and to share evidence against each detainee to enable the Government of Pakistan (GOP) to process these individuals upon their return to Pakistan. ¶3. (C) Background: Following the August 8-10 visit by Ministry of Interior (MOI) officers to GTMO, PolCouns had been told that the MOI had forwarded text requesting detainee repatriation to the MFA. PolCouns inquired at the MOI and MFA about the status of the GOP request several times over the course of the following weeks. During an October 20 meeting, MFA (Americas) Director General Sohail Mehmood advised PolCouns that MOI LTC Imran Yacuub would serve as the GOP's point-of-contact for all future detainees transfers (Ref A); Mehmood also said that a note verbale requesting repatriation of all detainees had been sent to the Embassy the previous week. When no note arrived at the Embassy by early November, POL requested that the MFA fax a copy to the Embassy for transmission to WashDC. (Note: The note verbale is reproduced in full in para. 6. End note.) ¶4. (C) Action request: Post requests Department guidance on a response to the GOP request for repatriation of all GTMO and Bagram detainees. ¶5. (C) Action request: Post has coordinated the repatriation of Pakistani detainees in the past, most recently in October 2006 (Ref B). POL will continue to serve as the Embassy point-of-contact, but requests front channel notice of the individuals to be transferred at least one week before the proposed transfer date. This advance notice will allow POL adequate time to coordinate with MOI regarding confirmation of the detainees' nationality and to assure that appropriate arrangements have been made to process the detainees upon arrival in Pakistan. Post also requests that the cable include names and contact information for military points-of-contact responsible for the detainees' custody and transfer to Pakistan, so that post is able to coordinate logistical arrangements and flight clearances for the detainees' transport. ¶6. (SBU) Text of October 12 note verbale: (Begin text.) No. USA-2/16/2006 12 October 2006 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 state that a two member Pakistani delegation visited Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) from 8 August to 10 August 2006 for consular access to Pakistani prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. During the visit, the delegation met with officials of the U.S. Department of State and Defence, including Admiral Harry ¶B. Harris Jr. Force Commander Taks Force, GTMO, Director Joint Intelligence Group, Director Criminal Investigation Task Force, Director FBI GTMO and Director Interrogation Control GTMO. The delegation received briefings on each detainee prior to consular access. The delegation confirmed the total number of Pakistani detainees at GTMO as 06. The Pakistani delegation in its meeting wth U.S. officials conveyed that the Government of Pakistan was of the view that detainees pose no threat to U.S. interests and hence should be repatriated to Pakistan. Further, any evidence available about each detainee may be shared with Government of Pakistan for further processing of cases in Pakistan after ISLAMABAD 00022026 002 OF 002 repatriation. The delegation intimated that the U.S. officials indicated their willingness to consider the cases for repatriation favourably if the Government of Pakistan initiated a written request. In view of the above, the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan is requested to forward the formal request of the Government of Pakistan to the concerned U.S. authorities for repatriation of Pakistani detainees at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) as well as those detainees who are being held in Afghanistan and to share evidence in respect of each detainee to enable the Government of Pakistan to process these cases after repatriation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Islamabad the assurances of its highest consideration. Embassy of the United States of America, Islamabad. (End text.) CROCKER