Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD4761
2006-03-22 02:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
VICE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF WANTS ANA TO JOIN
how-toVZCZCXRO7308 OO RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #4761 0810200 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220200Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 4823 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2949 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY PRIORITY 9346 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 0157 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 3537 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0597 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1353 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6054 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 7892 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 0831 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0179 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 8095 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 5899
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004761
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL -- PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2015
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS MASS AF
SUBJECT: VICE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF WANTS ANA TO JOIN
U.S.-PAK JOINT EXERCISE
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 004761
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL -- PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2015
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS MASS AF
SUBJECT: VICE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF WANTS ANA TO JOIN
U.S.-PAK JOINT EXERCISE
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a March 17 conversation with PM - A/S Hillen,
Pakistan's Vice Chief of Army Staff GEN Ahsan Saleem Hyat
said that he would welcome the expanding a joint exercise
between the U.S. and Pakistan military schedule for later
this spring to include a unit from the Afghan National Army
(ANA). The exercise in question -- Inspired Gambit -- is
scheduled for May 2 - 10, with a training location at Tarbela
and exercise site at Cherat, NWFP. The exercise will focus on
preparation of air assault operations at a battalion level
and execution at a company level. GEN Ahsan believed that
including an ANA unit (perhaps one ANA squadron attached to
each participating U.S. and Pakistani unit) would increase
interoperability and cross-border cooperation, as well as
help to cool the heated public rhetoric that has
characterized the Pakistani-Afghan bilateral relationship
over the past month.
2. (C) GEN Hyat first raised the prospect of ANA forces
joining the Inspired Gambit exercise during his March 6
meeting in Islamabad with GEN Abizaid. His fulsome
discussion of the proposal in his meeting with A/S Hillen
reveal that he has given the idea serious consideration in
the interim. Emb Islamabad supports GEN Hyat's suggestion,
agreeing that folding an ANA unit into this exercise offers
an early opportunity to advance cross-border cooperation and
build trust between these neighbors.
3. (C) Office of Defense Representative - Pakistan (ODRP)
officers raised the possibility of ANA participation in a
March 20 Inspired Gambit planning meeting with the Pakistan
Army's Directorate General-Military Training (DGMT); DGMT
representatives were receptive, although surprised to hear
that the idea originated with GEN Ahsan. The Pakistani side
said that -- for cultural, dietary and language reasons --
they would look into providing mess and billets for the ANA
contingent, while the ODRP representative would take on
responsibility for transporting the ANA troops to/from
Afghanistan.
4. (C) Comment: As we work to increase positive
interaction between Pakistn and Afghanistan, this is a
positive development. We hope that Embassy Kabul and CFC-A
will encourage Afghan participation in this exercise.
5. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KABUL -- PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2015
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS MASS AF
SUBJECT: VICE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF WANTS ANA TO JOIN
U.S.-PAK JOINT EXERCISE
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a March 17 conversation with PM - A/S Hillen,
Pakistan's Vice Chief of Army Staff GEN Ahsan Saleem Hyat
said that he would welcome the expanding a joint exercise
between the U.S. and Pakistan military schedule for later
this spring to include a unit from the Afghan National Army
(ANA). The exercise in question -- Inspired Gambit -- is
scheduled for May 2 - 10, with a training location at Tarbela
and exercise site at Cherat, NWFP. The exercise will focus on
preparation of air assault operations at a battalion level
and execution at a company level. GEN Ahsan believed that
including an ANA unit (perhaps one ANA squadron attached to
each participating U.S. and Pakistani unit) would increase
interoperability and cross-border cooperation, as well as
help to cool the heated public rhetoric that has
characterized the Pakistani-Afghan bilateral relationship
over the past month.
2. (C) GEN Hyat first raised the prospect of ANA forces
joining the Inspired Gambit exercise during his March 6
meeting in Islamabad with GEN Abizaid. His fulsome
discussion of the proposal in his meeting with A/S Hillen
reveal that he has given the idea serious consideration in
the interim. Emb Islamabad supports GEN Hyat's suggestion,
agreeing that folding an ANA unit into this exercise offers
an early opportunity to advance cross-border cooperation and
build trust between these neighbors.
3. (C) Office of Defense Representative - Pakistan (ODRP)
officers raised the possibility of ANA participation in a
March 20 Inspired Gambit planning meeting with the Pakistan
Army's Directorate General-Military Training (DGMT); DGMT
representatives were receptive, although surprised to hear
that the idea originated with GEN Ahsan. The Pakistani side
said that -- for cultural, dietary and language reasons --
they would look into providing mess and billets for the ANA
contingent, while the ODRP representative would take on
responsibility for transporting the ANA troops to/from
Afghanistan.
4. (C) Comment: As we work to increase positive
interaction between Pakistn and Afghanistan, this is a
positive development. We hope that Embassy Kabul and CFC-A
will encourage Afghan participation in this exercise.
5. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
CROCKER