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