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 -------------- ¶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 ISLAMABAD 00005019 002 OF 002 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