Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD7563
2006-04-28 15:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
SIXTEENTH MEETING OF U.S.-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
VZCZCXRO8371 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #7563/01 1181502 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281502Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6753 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 5151 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8281 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0767 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 8594 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 6409 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 007563
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PK AF PTER
SUBJECT: SIXTEENTH MEETING OF U.S.-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
TRIPARTITE COMMISSION
Classified By: Derived from DSCG 05-01, b.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 007563
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PK AF PTER
SUBJECT: SIXTEENTH MEETING OF U.S.-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
TRIPARTITE COMMISSION
Classified By: Derived from DSCG 05-01, b.
1. (C) Summary: The Tripartite Commission (TPC) Met at GHQ
in Rawalpindi April 19 -- the third Tripartite conducted at
the four-star level and the second official visit to Pakistan
by Afghanistan's Chief of the General Staff. Atmospherics
were favorable, continuing a trend seen in earlier TPC
meetings. Key outcomes included agreement to hold a
counter-IED symposium in May at Bagram for Coalition, Afghan
and Pakistani participants, agreement to post Afghan and
Pakistani intelligence LNOs at CFC-A HQ, with the long-term
goal of moving these intel LNOs to Bagram after a validation
period, a personal invitation from the ANA G-2 for his
Pakistani counterpart (DGMI) to visit him in Kabul, and a
summary of the inaugural Afghan-Pakistani Confidence Building
Seminar, held in March at the Marshall Center in Germany.
All three sides briefed their roles and provided an update on
Operation Mountain Lion. Pakistani and Afghan participants
acknowledged the significance of the ANA participation in
Exercise Inspired Gambit scheduled for 1-12 May. All sides
expressed support for accepting NATO-ISAF as a full member of
the Tripartite Commission and for expanding the Border
Subcommittee to include the southern border region -- though
on both issues, the Pakistanis indicated they need to work
internally before the GOP can offer official concurrence.
End Summary.
2. (U) Participants met in Rawalpindi on April 19, 2006 for
the 16th Tripartite Commission (TPC) Plenary Session. The
Pakistani and Afghan sides were led at the four star level by
Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Hyat and ANA Chief of
General Staff General Bismullah Khan respectively. CFC-A
Commander Lt General Karl Eikenberry led the U.S. side.
Others participating on the Pakistani side included
Pakistan's Ambassador in Kabul Tariq Aziz Ud Din, Director
General of Military Operations (DGMO) MG Muhammad Yousaf,
Incoming DGMO MG Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director General of
Military Intelligence MG Nadeem Taj, Director of Military
Operations BG Nasser Khan Janjua, and Director of Military
Intelligence BG Raza Muhammad. The Afghan side included ANA
Chief of Operations Lt Gen Sher Karimi, DG of the Afghan
Border Police LG Haroon Asefi, Ambassador to Pakistan
Nangulalai Tarzi and ANA Chief of Intelligence MG Abdul
Khaliq. U.S. participants included MG Benjamin Freakley and
BG James Terry. BG Richard Tabor represented NATO/ISAF.
3. (C) Atmospherics at the TPC were favorable, helped by a
dinner the previous evening hosted by General Ahsan at his
residence. On the morning of the TPC, General Bismullah was
received with full honors. During the meeting, both sides
spoke repeatedly of "brotherly relations" and the need for
trust and improved coordination at the operational level.
General Ahsan opened the meeting by stressing that Pakistan
remained committed to good relations with Afghanistan, adding
that the two countries faced a common enemy opposed to peace
in the region. General Bismullah expressed appreciation for
Pakistan's efforts in the border regions and offered
condolences for Pakistan Army "shahids" who had been killed
in Waziristan. Underscoring that the two countries shared
common interests in regional stability, he urged Pakistan to
focus increased attention on border areas in the south, where
Taliban and Al Qa'ida elements were infiltrating and
destabilizing Afghanistan's southern provinces. Lt. General
Eikenberry noted the shift of international operations toward
NATO/ISAF, explaining that at the end of July MG Freakley
would wear two hats as both as operational commander of
Regional Command East and as Deputy Commander under NATO/ISAF.
Border Security Subcommittee
--------------
4. (C) BG Terry briefed on progress in the Border Security
Subcommittee Meeting (BSSM),including improving
communications capabilities connecting the two sides. A
secure computer system now links CJTF-76 HQ and Pakistani
counterparts, and a secure, high-frequency radio system
expected to be delivered by early May will give Coalition
units the ability to coordinate directly with Pakistani units
on the other side of the border. BG Nasser observed that the
frequency of border violations had declined and that all
sides recognized the "sanctity of borders." He noted the
ISLAMABAD 00007563 002 OF 003
killing in Afghanistan of seventeen Pakistanis and Afghan
assurances that "necessary action" would be taken. Lt.
General Eikenberry noted that as the BSSM expanded to cover
Regional Command South it would confront a different
configuration of deployments and threats. General Ahsan,
while supportive in principle, said that this transition
would require careful thought, given that in Pakistan's 12th
Corps region (Balochistan) the geography and demographics
were very different than in the 11th Corps region (the Tribal
Areas). Given that the area was very sparsely populated,
there would be an increased need for surveillance capability
and mobility. "We need to get together and get deeper into
it," he concluded.
Military Intelligence Sharing Working Group
--------------
5. (C) Following an update on the Military Intelligence
Subcommittee, General Ahsan noted that there was a need for a
deeper understanding of principles relating to intelligence,
which should be "preventive, preemptive and predictive." The
Afghan side stressed the need for better intelligence and
communication on the recruitment and deployment of suicide
bombers. The Pakistanis emphasized the need to deploy
liaison officers quickly and the importance of tracking and
blocking weapons trafficking, which was affecting law and
order in Balochistan with direct implications for stability
in bordering areas of Afghanistan. Lt. General Eikenberry
noted that with respect to intelligence cooperation, other
national agencies were also involved and it would be
important to avoid redundancy. There was a tentative
agreement to post Afghan and Pakistani intelligence LNOs at
CFC-A HQ, with the long-term goal of moving these intel LNOs
to Bagram after a validation period.
Counter IED Working Group
--------------
6. (C) After a presentation on the way ahead on counter-IED
cooperation and a comparative assessment of counter IED
capabilities, the Pakistani and Afghan sides commended
progress in the Working Group and agreed that IEDs
represented a common threat. General Ahsan responded to an
Afghan request for technical assistance by saying Pakistan,
after suffering significant losses of its own, had developed
safety measures and procedures that it would share. He also
stressed the need to target the full IED supply chain,
beginning with funding sources. A Counter-IED Symposium,
jointly hosted by CFC-A and ARCENT, will be held at the end
of May at Bagram, and attended by Coalition, Afghan and
Pakistani participants.
Operation Mountain Lion
--------------
7. (C) Lt. General Karimi briefed on ANA and Coalition
shaping and border operations, explaining that the ANA's
201st, 203rd and 205th Corps were participating in the
operation with coalition forces. 201st Corps is
participating as part of the Coalition main effort, with
battalions conducting Joint Patrolling and Offensive
Operations in Pech and Korengal Valleys; 203d Corps is
conducting joint border operations in Khowst, Paktika and
Zabol Provinces, and 205th Corps is conducting shaping
operations in southern Afghanistan.
8. (C) BG Nasser reviewed Pakistani deployments in support
of Operation Mountain Lion, including:
-- Blocking positions established at 3 locations (Arandu,
Chitral; Bin Shahi, Dir; Nawa Pass, Bajaur) -- to interdict
key infiltration routes
--133 Army and Frontier Corps posts in the area
-- 7 Frontier Corps Wings already deployed to
Chitral/Dir/Bajaur
-- Additional units moved in to support Operation Mountain
Lion, including:
- 2 Army Infantry Battalions (one pulled from
the earthquake area)
- 3 FC Wings
- 1 SOTF Company
ISLAMABAD 00007563 003 OF 003
- 1 Medium Artillery Battalion
- 3 Mortar batteries
- SSG and Aviation support from Peshawar are
also available as required
- a total of approximately 3000 personnel deployed
9. (C) BG Nasser also reviewed operations in the tribal
areas since the last TPC on February 26:
-- March 1: Nur Payo Khan (Sedgai),45 enemy KIA; 46 enemy WIA
-- March 4: Miram Shah and Mir Ali, 65-70 enemy KIA
-- March 7: Miram Shah Operations to destroy militant
madrassas and militants' buildings
-- March 10: Khatti Kili (Sadiq Noor Compound),25-30 enemy
KIA
-- April 4: Operation Mana, 40 enemy KIA; 19 apprehended
-- April 12: Operation Naghar, 13 enemy KIA; (including HVT
Abdul Rehman; 7 foreigners KIA)
-- Total of 25 militant houses demolished during the time
period.
Looking ahead, Nasser explained that "jeepable" tracks in the
border area would be blocked, sweep operations and "snap"
operations by SSG and SOTF would continue, Miram Shah and Mir
Ali would remain a "weapons free declared" area and a night
curfew would be imposed in border areas. Also, a political
process would be implemented alongside military operations.
Confidence Building Seminars
--------------
10. (C) ANA J-2 Col. Salahuddin praised the recent joint
Pakistan-Afghanistan seminar in Germany, saying that by the
end of the session participants on both sides had overcome
suspicions and become friends. Pakistani LTC Dar, also a
Garmisch participant, echoed Salahuddin's views on the
confidence-building value of the seminars. CFC explained that
two sessions would be held annually over the next five years,
focusing on field grade officers and officers serving in the
border regions.
Tripartite Way Ahead
--------------
11. (C) Summing up, Lt. General Eikenberry noted that key
areas to address were structural issues relating to the next
steps in the intelligence sharing working group and the
expansion of the BSSM to the south (involving Pakistan's 12th
Corps and Frontier Corp). He proposed that representatives
from all sides meet in Pakistan to agree on modalities. He
reassured the Pakistani side that the expansion of NATO/ISAF
would not mean a diminution in U.S. capability; the U.S.
would still provide the most "boots on the ground,"
contributing on intelligence and air support, among other
areas. He expressed the hope that at the next Tripartite in
June, NATO/ISAF could be brought in as a full partner.
General Ahsan was agreeable in principle on the expansion of
the BSSM to the South but indicated that Pakistan would have
to vet this concept through the Joint Staff before final
approval. On full NATO membership starting with the June
Tripartite, Gen. Ahsan said this would "in all probability"
occur, but would also require formal approval. General Ahsan
voiced his satisfaction that the ANA would participate in the
U.S.-Pakistan Exercise Inspired Gambit. General Bismullah
Khan, invited Pakistani DGMO-designate MG Pasha to visit
Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of trust in achieving
common goals and again sought to draw Pakistan's attention to
the southern border region.
12. (U) CFC-A Commander Lt General Karl Eikenberry cleared
this cable.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PK AF PTER
SUBJECT: SIXTEENTH MEETING OF U.S.-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
TRIPARTITE COMMISSION
Classified By: Derived from DSCG 05-01, b.
1. (C) Summary: The Tripartite Commission (TPC) Met at GHQ
in Rawalpindi April 19 -- the third Tripartite conducted at
the four-star level and the second official visit to Pakistan
by Afghanistan's Chief of the General Staff. Atmospherics
were favorable, continuing a trend seen in earlier TPC
meetings. Key outcomes included agreement to hold a
counter-IED symposium in May at Bagram for Coalition, Afghan
and Pakistani participants, agreement to post Afghan and
Pakistani intelligence LNOs at CFC-A HQ, with the long-term
goal of moving these intel LNOs to Bagram after a validation
period, a personal invitation from the ANA G-2 for his
Pakistani counterpart (DGMI) to visit him in Kabul, and a
summary of the inaugural Afghan-Pakistani Confidence Building
Seminar, held in March at the Marshall Center in Germany.
All three sides briefed their roles and provided an update on
Operation Mountain Lion. Pakistani and Afghan participants
acknowledged the significance of the ANA participation in
Exercise Inspired Gambit scheduled for 1-12 May. All sides
expressed support for accepting NATO-ISAF as a full member of
the Tripartite Commission and for expanding the Border
Subcommittee to include the southern border region -- though
on both issues, the Pakistanis indicated they need to work
internally before the GOP can offer official concurrence.
End Summary.
2. (U) Participants met in Rawalpindi on April 19, 2006 for
the 16th Tripartite Commission (TPC) Plenary Session. The
Pakistani and Afghan sides were led at the four star level by
Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Hyat and ANA Chief of
General Staff General Bismullah Khan respectively. CFC-A
Commander Lt General Karl Eikenberry led the U.S. side.
Others participating on the Pakistani side included
Pakistan's Ambassador in Kabul Tariq Aziz Ud Din, Director
General of Military Operations (DGMO) MG Muhammad Yousaf,
Incoming DGMO MG Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director General of
Military Intelligence MG Nadeem Taj, Director of Military
Operations BG Nasser Khan Janjua, and Director of Military
Intelligence BG Raza Muhammad. The Afghan side included ANA
Chief of Operations Lt Gen Sher Karimi, DG of the Afghan
Border Police LG Haroon Asefi, Ambassador to Pakistan
Nangulalai Tarzi and ANA Chief of Intelligence MG Abdul
Khaliq. U.S. participants included MG Benjamin Freakley and
BG James Terry. BG Richard Tabor represented NATO/ISAF.
3. (C) Atmospherics at the TPC were favorable, helped by a
dinner the previous evening hosted by General Ahsan at his
residence. On the morning of the TPC, General Bismullah was
received with full honors. During the meeting, both sides
spoke repeatedly of "brotherly relations" and the need for
trust and improved coordination at the operational level.
General Ahsan opened the meeting by stressing that Pakistan
remained committed to good relations with Afghanistan, adding
that the two countries faced a common enemy opposed to peace
in the region. General Bismullah expressed appreciation for
Pakistan's efforts in the border regions and offered
condolences for Pakistan Army "shahids" who had been killed
in Waziristan. Underscoring that the two countries shared
common interests in regional stability, he urged Pakistan to
focus increased attention on border areas in the south, where
Taliban and Al Qa'ida elements were infiltrating and
destabilizing Afghanistan's southern provinces. Lt. General
Eikenberry noted the shift of international operations toward
NATO/ISAF, explaining that at the end of July MG Freakley
would wear two hats as both as operational commander of
Regional Command East and as Deputy Commander under NATO/ISAF.
Border Security Subcommittee
--------------
4. (C) BG Terry briefed on progress in the Border Security
Subcommittee Meeting (BSSM),including improving
communications capabilities connecting the two sides. A
secure computer system now links CJTF-76 HQ and Pakistani
counterparts, and a secure, high-frequency radio system
expected to be delivered by early May will give Coalition
units the ability to coordinate directly with Pakistani units
on the other side of the border. BG Nasser observed that the
frequency of border violations had declined and that all
sides recognized the "sanctity of borders." He noted the
ISLAMABAD 00007563 002 OF 003
killing in Afghanistan of seventeen Pakistanis and Afghan
assurances that "necessary action" would be taken. Lt.
General Eikenberry noted that as the BSSM expanded to cover
Regional Command South it would confront a different
configuration of deployments and threats. General Ahsan,
while supportive in principle, said that this transition
would require careful thought, given that in Pakistan's 12th
Corps region (Balochistan) the geography and demographics
were very different than in the 11th Corps region (the Tribal
Areas). Given that the area was very sparsely populated,
there would be an increased need for surveillance capability
and mobility. "We need to get together and get deeper into
it," he concluded.
Military Intelligence Sharing Working Group
--------------
5. (C) Following an update on the Military Intelligence
Subcommittee, General Ahsan noted that there was a need for a
deeper understanding of principles relating to intelligence,
which should be "preventive, preemptive and predictive." The
Afghan side stressed the need for better intelligence and
communication on the recruitment and deployment of suicide
bombers. The Pakistanis emphasized the need to deploy
liaison officers quickly and the importance of tracking and
blocking weapons trafficking, which was affecting law and
order in Balochistan with direct implications for stability
in bordering areas of Afghanistan. Lt. General Eikenberry
noted that with respect to intelligence cooperation, other
national agencies were also involved and it would be
important to avoid redundancy. There was a tentative
agreement to post Afghan and Pakistani intelligence LNOs at
CFC-A HQ, with the long-term goal of moving these intel LNOs
to Bagram after a validation period.
Counter IED Working Group
--------------
6. (C) After a presentation on the way ahead on counter-IED
cooperation and a comparative assessment of counter IED
capabilities, the Pakistani and Afghan sides commended
progress in the Working Group and agreed that IEDs
represented a common threat. General Ahsan responded to an
Afghan request for technical assistance by saying Pakistan,
after suffering significant losses of its own, had developed
safety measures and procedures that it would share. He also
stressed the need to target the full IED supply chain,
beginning with funding sources. A Counter-IED Symposium,
jointly hosted by CFC-A and ARCENT, will be held at the end
of May at Bagram, and attended by Coalition, Afghan and
Pakistani participants.
Operation Mountain Lion
--------------
7. (C) Lt. General Karimi briefed on ANA and Coalition
shaping and border operations, explaining that the ANA's
201st, 203rd and 205th Corps were participating in the
operation with coalition forces. 201st Corps is
participating as part of the Coalition main effort, with
battalions conducting Joint Patrolling and Offensive
Operations in Pech and Korengal Valleys; 203d Corps is
conducting joint border operations in Khowst, Paktika and
Zabol Provinces, and 205th Corps is conducting shaping
operations in southern Afghanistan.
8. (C) BG Nasser reviewed Pakistani deployments in support
of Operation Mountain Lion, including:
-- Blocking positions established at 3 locations (Arandu,
Chitral; Bin Shahi, Dir; Nawa Pass, Bajaur) -- to interdict
key infiltration routes
--133 Army and Frontier Corps posts in the area
-- 7 Frontier Corps Wings already deployed to
Chitral/Dir/Bajaur
-- Additional units moved in to support Operation Mountain
Lion, including:
- 2 Army Infantry Battalions (one pulled from
the earthquake area)
- 3 FC Wings
- 1 SOTF Company
ISLAMABAD 00007563 003 OF 003
- 1 Medium Artillery Battalion
- 3 Mortar batteries
- SSG and Aviation support from Peshawar are
also available as required
- a total of approximately 3000 personnel deployed
9. (C) BG Nasser also reviewed operations in the tribal
areas since the last TPC on February 26:
-- March 1: Nur Payo Khan (Sedgai),45 enemy KIA; 46 enemy WIA
-- March 4: Miram Shah and Mir Ali, 65-70 enemy KIA
-- March 7: Miram Shah Operations to destroy militant
madrassas and militants' buildings
-- March 10: Khatti Kili (Sadiq Noor Compound),25-30 enemy
KIA
-- April 4: Operation Mana, 40 enemy KIA; 19 apprehended
-- April 12: Operation Naghar, 13 enemy KIA; (including HVT
Abdul Rehman; 7 foreigners KIA)
-- Total of 25 militant houses demolished during the time
period.
Looking ahead, Nasser explained that "jeepable" tracks in the
border area would be blocked, sweep operations and "snap"
operations by SSG and SOTF would continue, Miram Shah and Mir
Ali would remain a "weapons free declared" area and a night
curfew would be imposed in border areas. Also, a political
process would be implemented alongside military operations.
Confidence Building Seminars
--------------
10. (C) ANA J-2 Col. Salahuddin praised the recent joint
Pakistan-Afghanistan seminar in Germany, saying that by the
end of the session participants on both sides had overcome
suspicions and become friends. Pakistani LTC Dar, also a
Garmisch participant, echoed Salahuddin's views on the
confidence-building value of the seminars. CFC explained that
two sessions would be held annually over the next five years,
focusing on field grade officers and officers serving in the
border regions.
Tripartite Way Ahead
--------------
11. (C) Summing up, Lt. General Eikenberry noted that key
areas to address were structural issues relating to the next
steps in the intelligence sharing working group and the
expansion of the BSSM to the south (involving Pakistan's 12th
Corps and Frontier Corp). He proposed that representatives
from all sides meet in Pakistan to agree on modalities. He
reassured the Pakistani side that the expansion of NATO/ISAF
would not mean a diminution in U.S. capability; the U.S.
would still provide the most "boots on the ground,"
contributing on intelligence and air support, among other
areas. He expressed the hope that at the next Tripartite in
June, NATO/ISAF could be brought in as a full partner.
General Ahsan was agreeable in principle on the expansion of
the BSSM to the South but indicated that Pakistan would have
to vet this concept through the Joint Staff before final
approval. On full NATO membership starting with the June
Tripartite, Gen. Ahsan said this would "in all probability"
occur, but would also require formal approval. General Ahsan
voiced his satisfaction that the ANA would participate in the
U.S.-Pakistan Exercise Inspired Gambit. General Bismullah
Khan, invited Pakistani DGMO-designate MG Pasha to visit
Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of trust in achieving
common goals and again sought to draw Pakistan's attention to
the southern border region.
12. (U) CFC-A Commander Lt General Karl Eikenberry cleared
this cable.
BODDE