FATA PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE: OCTOBER 26 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 004601 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT EAID PGOV KPAO PK PTER PREL SUBJECT: FATA PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE: OCTOBER 26 2007 REF: A. ISLAMABAD 4363 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 3476 ¶C. PESHAWAR 559 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTS: Per Ref A, Post requests urgent action on two pending requests: 1) Funding for a temporary FATA Coordinator; and, 2) Renewal of funding for a critical Pashto-language radio program. (See Paras 3 and 4 for action requests.) Post appreciates the swift response to its Ref A request for deployment of a Military Information Support Team (MIST) to Pakistan, and welcomes the arrival of an assessment team in early November. Meanwhile, USAID,s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) has established a continuous presence in Peshawar. Security remains a significant concern, but OTI is pressing forward to identify working partners for project implementation in early ¶2008. END SUMMARY. ACTION NEEDED: FATA Coordinator and Pashto Radio Program -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The front office has interviewed via DVC a WAE candidate for Mission FATA coordinator. (See previous requests, including draft position description.) The Ambassador believes that, based on the candidate's previous experience, he would be an excellent choice to fill this critical coordination role until a permanent position is established and filled. If funding is provided, this candidate could be on the ground in Islamabad by mid-November. ¶3. (SBU) Post again encourages the Department to release $140,000 funding for vital Pashto-language radio programming (Ref A). This programming broadcasts moderate viewpoints to the border areas and is a key, cost-effective element of our counter-insurgency strategy. USAID: Moving Forward -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Although security remains a significant issue, USAID is moving forward swiftly on project implementation. USAID/OTI has established a presence in Peshawar to strengthen community and government relations in the FATA. USAID/OTI has identified the International Organization for Migration as an implementing partner and plans to select others very soon, hoping to have them on the ground in November. The focus will be on small grants projects (USD 8,000-30,000 each) for water and sanitation, roads, etc. OTI expects to begin implementation of these programs by January/February 2008. ¶5. (SBU) USAID/Pakistan is also reviewing proposals from potential capacity building contractors. The final decision will be made in the next few weeks and a contract is planned for December, with implementation beginning January 2008. A team from USAID Afghanistan will also visit Peshawar December 1-5 to begin discussions with USAID Pakistan on a possible cross-border trade initiative. ODRP: Security Development Plan (SDP) -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In support of our efforts for greater coordination and integration with U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the Office of the Defense Representative to Pakistan (ODRP) participated in an October 17 border coordination meeting in Bagram, Afghanistan. Several key players with equities along the Pak-Afghan border met to discuss their programs and determine where further coordination and/or integration might be warranted. The meetings will be held monthly and the Narcotics Affairs director will go to the next one. Combined Joint Task Force-82 is leaning forward on Border Surveillance Centers (BSC) and has requested USD 17.4 million for future BSCs. DEA Training -------------- ¶7. (SBU) DEA received approval from the Afghan government to bring four Pakistani officers to Afghanistan for training. There are also tentative plans for lab training from November 19-21 for Frontier Corps and Anti Narcotic Force personnel. ISLAMABAD 00004601 002 OF 002 DEA will also bring the head of the Afghan counter-narcotics-vetted unit to meet with Pakistani colleagues. Islamabad,s Narcotics Affairs Section reported that USD 59 million is available for counter-narcotics in FY-08. Public Diplomacy Efforts and MIST Team -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Post welcomes the proposal to deploy a four-person military information support team (MIST) led at the Colonel level to visit Islamabad and Peshawar from November 13-15 to assess information operations and opportunities. Islamabad,s Public Affairs Section has also developed a media strategy for the FATA. Consistent and transparent outreach will be critical to overcoming traditional FATA suspicion of government programs, especially those associated with the USG. For maximum transparency, we will post a comprehensive page on the Embassy web site explaining how the USG is supporting the Government of Pakistan,s strategy for FATA development. PATTERSON