Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD1070
2008-03-10 12:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
FATA IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE FOR 03/07/08
how-toVZCZCXRO0207 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #1070 0701206 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101206Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5789 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 8298 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2967 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9246 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5061 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3764 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001070
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE FOR 03/07/08
REF: ISLAMABAD 932
Classified By: Ambassador Anne Patterson, reason 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001070
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE FOR 03/07/08
REF: ISLAMABAD 932
Classified By: Ambassador Anne Patterson, reason 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary: Following below is a summary of US Mission
Islamabad's activities in Pakistan's Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) along its northwest border with
Afghanistan during the week ending March 7, 2008.
ODRP FATA Programs
--------------
2. (C) Senior ODRP officers met with Major General Pasha,
Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations on March 7
regarding ODRP's ongoing planning for training for the
Frontier Corps later this year. MG Pasha stressed the
Pakistan government's very strong wish that any public
discussion, and in particular any release to the media, of US
training for the Frontier Corps be first coordinated with the
Pakistani military.
USAID FATA Programs
--------------
3. (U) USAID reports the government-sponsored Cricket
tournament which it helped sponsor in Khyber Agency drew
crowds of up to 500 daily and has been on Radio Khyber and in
the local press. USAID's local staff report the tournament is
fostering a positive sense of a return to normalcy in an area
where civil strife has been endemic.
4. (U) USAID is supporting the establishment of a radio
station in Swat and conflict mitigation programs for FATA
radio stations through a six-week training program of 50
media professionals. The first week of training was for
presenters on how to conduct conflict mitigation using
moderate interpretations of Islam.
5. (SBU) The USAID deputy director spent the past week in
Peshawar and FATA Agencies visiting relevant USAID projects.
He noted at all of the 36 schools we have built in the FATA
enrollment is up significantly, at some up to 75%. He
stressed that of the 36 schools we have built in FATA only
one--one--has been destroyed by the Taliban, despite apparent
rumors of many more being torched. USAID, through its
implementing partners, will be building another 24 schools in
the FATA Agencies.
Security in FATA
--------------
6. (SBU) Despite the success of USAID's other FATA programs
which we mention in our weekly updates, security in the
region remains a central impediment to getting the job done.
USAID's latest weekly update provides a vivid example. The
tragic attack on a multi-tribal "jirga", or council, in Darra
Adam Khel a week ago significantly tightened security on
roads in the region. This was compounded by an incident in
Mohmand on March 3, when Frontier Corps forces fired a rocket
launcher at a car filled with six Taliban at a check post in
Nawagai after the Taliban refused to let the car be searched.
The subsequent explosion was so loud, the general view was
the vehicle was filled with explosives.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE FOR 03/07/08
REF: ISLAMABAD 932
Classified By: Ambassador Anne Patterson, reason 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary: Following below is a summary of US Mission
Islamabad's activities in Pakistan's Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) along its northwest border with
Afghanistan during the week ending March 7, 2008.
ODRP FATA Programs
--------------
2. (C) Senior ODRP officers met with Major General Pasha,
Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations on March 7
regarding ODRP's ongoing planning for training for the
Frontier Corps later this year. MG Pasha stressed the
Pakistan government's very strong wish that any public
discussion, and in particular any release to the media, of US
training for the Frontier Corps be first coordinated with the
Pakistani military.
USAID FATA Programs
--------------
3. (U) USAID reports the government-sponsored Cricket
tournament which it helped sponsor in Khyber Agency drew
crowds of up to 500 daily and has been on Radio Khyber and in
the local press. USAID's local staff report the tournament is
fostering a positive sense of a return to normalcy in an area
where civil strife has been endemic.
4. (U) USAID is supporting the establishment of a radio
station in Swat and conflict mitigation programs for FATA
radio stations through a six-week training program of 50
media professionals. The first week of training was for
presenters on how to conduct conflict mitigation using
moderate interpretations of Islam.
5. (SBU) The USAID deputy director spent the past week in
Peshawar and FATA Agencies visiting relevant USAID projects.
He noted at all of the 36 schools we have built in the FATA
enrollment is up significantly, at some up to 75%. He
stressed that of the 36 schools we have built in FATA only
one--one--has been destroyed by the Taliban, despite apparent
rumors of many more being torched. USAID, through its
implementing partners, will be building another 24 schools in
the FATA Agencies.
Security in FATA
--------------
6. (SBU) Despite the success of USAID's other FATA programs
which we mention in our weekly updates, security in the
region remains a central impediment to getting the job done.
USAID's latest weekly update provides a vivid example. The
tragic attack on a multi-tribal "jirga", or council, in Darra
Adam Khel a week ago significantly tightened security on
roads in the region. This was compounded by an incident in
Mohmand on March 3, when Frontier Corps forces fired a rocket
launcher at a car filled with six Taliban at a check post in
Nawagai after the Taliban refused to let the car be searched.
The subsequent explosion was so loud, the general view was
the vehicle was filled with explosives.
PATTERSON