FATA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE (11/26/07)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 005019

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS SNAR PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE (11/26/07)

REF: ISLAMABAD 4601


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Construction crews broke ground for the Border
Coordination Center (BCC) at Torkham November 17. Design teams
working on the Frontier Corps Training Center (FCTC) at Warsak will
return within the week to refine construction timelines. The UK may
proceed (ahead of the US) with efforts under the Security
Development Plan for western Pakistan to improve Frontier Corps
capabilities in Baluchistan. USAID's Office of Transition
Initiatives (OTI) is ramping up its FATA program, with Implementing
Partners based in Peshawar set to begin work in December. The FATA
Secretariat has expressed interest in upgrading a British era

SIPDIS
highway in South Waziristan. NAS has assisted in improving radio
communication between the FATA Secretariat and project offices. And,
the FATA Construction Unit is expected to be operational in early

2008. Also, note the ambassador's proposal for an OIG audit review
of FATA programs (para 2). END SUMMARY.

FATA Programmatic Audit Proposal
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2. (SBU) In light of the scope and complexity of FATA development
programs, the Ambassador would like to initiate an open contract
through the Office of the Inspector General to conduct periodic
financial audits, in accordance with a request from the House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This audit would
review the program's contracts, inventories, and overall spending to
ensure the highest levels of transparency and accountability. FATA
Coordinator will be in direct contact with OIG to discuss this.

ODRP: Progress on the Torkham BCC
--------------

3. (SBU) Construction began at the Torkham Border Coordination
Center, with ground-breaking on November 17. Work continues with
perimeter wall installation, excavation of a site for cement
building pads, and digging of an 80 meter well. The contractor has
submitted required drawings to DOD-CN to get official notice to
proceed on the building pads. ODRP continues to monitor progress to
ensure coordination between building contractors and those hired to
construct the center's communications installation. CJTF-82 has
issued invitations through Coalition LNOs for an implementation
meeting on November 30; while that date may slip, we hope at least
to have more detail on participants/action officers for future
coordination meetings.

Frontier Corps Training Center
--------------

4. (SBU) Contractor for the FCTC at Warsak intends to return with a
design team within the week to refine project design and firm up the
timeline. The facility, to be built with 2007 supplemental funding,
includes classrooms for 450 students, quarters for 100 Pakistani
instructors, barracks, a 300-person mess hall and a headquarters
office. ODRP is working with the contractors to identify ways to cut
costs so that we can construct billets for Coalition instructors.


5. (SBU) The first shipment of vehicles and equipment at the FCTC is
expected in mid-January 2008 and will include body armor/helmets for
1050 troops, 540 combat lifesaver kits, nine ambulances, 60 Hilux
vehicles, 30 two and a half ton troop carriers, four water trucks
and 20 motorcycles. 28 Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR),on a
six-month production timeline, are expected to arrive in Pakistan
shortly thereafter.

United Kingdom Support
--------------

6. (SBU) UK lead for the western Pakistan Security Development Plan
(SDP) informed ODRP on November 26 that he intends to recommend the
UK begin planning for SDP Phase II, the effort to improve Frontier
Corps Baluchistan capabilities. The UK is concerned that the delays
the US had had gaining formal approval of the SDP will jeopardize
their ability to improve the security situation in Baluchistan
adjacent to their Area of Operation on the Afghan side. Their intent
is to finalize planning and solicit resources for development of a
training center that will include infrastructure development and
course development support.

OTI Update
--------------

7. (SBU) USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives is ramping up its
program. Creative Associates International and the International
Office of Migration (IOM) have been selected as OTI's implementing
partners. Pending final negotiations, the OTI Country Representative
will begin work in Peshawar in December. Partners and OTI staff

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participated in a two-day kick off session in Washington. OTI
staffing in-country is being finalized and an office is being set up
in Peshawar, housed with USAID/Pakistan at the Consulate. Following
lessons identified on previous OTI startups, OTI is maintaining a
continuous TDY presence on the ground until permanent staff arrives.


South Waziristan Security and Road Building
--------------

8. (SBU) "Quiet, but not secure" describes current conditions
throughout much of South Waziristan, the scene of fierce fighting
between government forces and militants earlier this year. During
our November 21 meetings at the FATA Secretariat, officials pointed
to signs of a somewhat more permissive environment and suggested
consideration of a road-building project in the agency. Their
proposal floated to NAS involved reconstruction of a British era
highway running from the eastern agency boundary into the South
Waziristan heartland. Separately, NAS Director held frank
discussions with Pakistani Corps of Engineers officers to review a
lack of progress and accountability on a NAS-funded FATA
road-building project.

Capacity Building
--------------

9. (SBU) A final meeting (November 27) will open the way for the
FATA Construction Unit to be operational in the next 2-3 months. In
November, NAS also established improved radio communication between
FATA Secretariat offices and project offices in each of the seven
Political Agencies and is training FATA technicians in radio repair.


PATTERSON