Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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07ISLAMABAD2113 | 2007-05-11 06:50:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Islamabad |
VZCZCXRO1997 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2113/01 1310650 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 110650Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9045 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE 3414 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 2064 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 7102 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0906 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE 0586 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 5948 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 2269 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE 0591 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 2291 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002113 |
government of Pakistan on combating financing of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Members of the Country Team have taken an inter-agency approach to informing and assisting the GOP at all levels on ways to disrupt the Taliban's financial networks. Intelligence has been shared, advice on legislation given, and high-level visitors encouraged to raise the issue in their meetings. There have been some notable successes, and Post continues to work to encourage the GOP to do more. End Summary PRESSING THE GOP TO DO MORE -------------------------- 2. (S) Post frequently discusses the need for action against Pakistan-based sources of Taliban financing and financial transfer at the highest levels of Pakistan's government, particularly with the President and Prime Minister. This includes not only utilizing embassy personnel, but also high-level visitors. MAKING PROGRESS ON THE MONEY LAUNDERING BILL -------------------------- 3. (C) Post is seeing movement in the progress of the anti-money laundering bill. The Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue of the National Assembly has thoroughly reviewed the bill, recommended amendments, and returned it to the Ministry of Finance. Post will work with Ministry of Finance to ensure the legislation meets international standards, and it should be sent back to the National Assembly for final passage in early June. (Note: State Bank of Pakistan Head Dr. Shamshad Akhtar stated a similar time frame in discussions with A/S Sullivan at their April 13 meeting in Washington. End Note) ENCOURAGING INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES -------------------------- 4. (SBU) Pakistan has already passed legislation regulating hawalas. In essence, hawalas no longer exist in Pakistan as they have been forced to register their businesses and are now considered currency exchange centers. As a result, more money from remittances abroad is flowing through the regulated banking system. In addition, Post is working with the Ministry of Social Welfare to help craft legislation which would require charities to register under one uniform act (Note: Currently, charities may register under any one of three ordinances, some dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. End Note) Under this proposed legislation, charities would be required to disclose the names of all their principals, in addition to sources of funding and how that funding is being spent. PROVIDING TRAINING -------------------------- 5. (SBU) Post's Legal Attache is working with the Ministry of Interior and Federal Investigation Agency on developing investigative training and an intelligence center to focus on counter-terrorism measures that would develop the capacity to identify and disrupt related money-laundering activities. The U.S. Department of Justice will be providing training for public prosecutors in Pakistan on financial crimes, including forfeiture of assets in prosecutions in the special courts. Once a money-laundering bill is passed, U.S. Department of Justice will develop and present money laundering prosecution training. This month, U.S. Department of Justice is sponsoring the attendance of a Pakistani delegation at a regional terrorism financing conference in Kuala Lumpur. ISLAMABAD 00002113 002 OF 002 MONITORING AL RASHID TRUST -------------------------- 6. (C) On April 18, the GOP raided the offices of Al Akhtar Trust and Al Rashid Trust, seized assets and sealed the offices. No arrests were made. (Note: The raids were conducted on a Sunday when there was little chance of the offices being occupied. End Note). Al Rashid Trust has since petitioned the Sindh High Court to overturn the closures. Sindh High Court did grant an interim order allowing Al Rashid Trust to remove perishable items from their warehouses in order to distribute them to the earthquake-affected areas; however, they cannot distribute the goods themselves and must use the Pakistan Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Agency or another charity. Al Rashid Trust told the press they were considering opening another charity using a different name in order to avoid problems like this in the future. Post has scheduled meetings to discuss the situation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Social Welfare, and will be closely following these events. SHARING INTELLIGENCE -------------------------- 7. (S/NF) Post, through aggressive sharing of information, has enabled the government of Pakistan to target the Taliban in an organized and effective manner. Since January 2006, Pakistan has arrested over 1400 Afghan nationals connected to the Taliban, including seven on the list President Karzai passed to President Musharraf in February. Pakistan has repatriated over 750 of them to Afghanistan. Since mid-2006, over 300 Taliban personnel have been detained in Quetta alone, including senior Taliban leader Mullah Obaidullah, who was captured in February 2007. Post continues to work with the security services of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to jointly target Taliban on both sides of the border, as well as encouraging increased bilateral information sharing between the two security services. In addition, Post is working with coalition partners inside Pakistan to maximize their information sharing with the government of Pakistan. These efforts have resulted in substantial progress being made against the Taliban target. 8. (S/NF) As a way forward, Post is pursuing two separate strategies, one for targeting Taliban located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan and one for those in the settled areas of the country such as Quetta and Peshawar. Post has developed a three-pronged approach in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas which involves increasing the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism capabilities of Pakistan's military and paramilitary forces, especially the Frontier Corps, providing development aid to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and enabling continued and increased security service operations against the Taliban. 9. (S/NF) Post plans to support security and law enforcement services by helping to enhance their counter intelligence capabilities and by providing appropriate development assistance. As part of both strategies, Post plans to continue its engagement and information sharing with the GOP and coalition partners at all levels in order to ensure sustained and aggressive efforts against the Taliban throughout Pakistan. COMMENT -------------------------- 10. (S) Post works closely with all levels of the GOP in order to disrupt funding and material support to the Taliban. In general, the GOP has been receptive and appreciative of our efforts. Post will continue to engage in the areas of money laundering and the misuse of charities. BODDE |