IMET: RECAPTURING PAKISTAN'S LOST GENERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001073 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS MARR PK SUBJECT: IMET: RECAPTURING PAKISTAN'S LOST GENERATION REF: STATE 7657 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see Paras 2 and 9. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY. Post welcomes Department's proposal to expand IMET funding for Pakistan (reftel) and intends to focus additional funding on those Pakistani military officers, now at mid and senior ranks, who were unable to participate in the IMET program during the 11 years of Pressler amendment sanctions. A more robust training and education program will represent a tangible long-term investment in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, as well as enhance Pakistan's security capabilities. Post is, however, concerned that growing IMET without smoothing its execution will not achieve intended results. Musharraf has removed his uniform and the government has held free and fair elections, please advise what impediments remain to lifting the "coup waiver" requirement. END SUMMARY. PAKISTAN'S LOST GENERATION ¶3. (C) U.S. sanctions effectively blocked military training and engagement programs with Pakistan from 1990 to 2001. The result is a generation of Pakistani officers who have not participated in the International Military Education and Training program (IMET),who have limited experience interacting with the US military and who view the US through a lens clouded with misunderstanding and suspicion. Many among Pakistan's middle and senior ranks (those forming the backbone of current Pakistan forces) have not had the opportunity for meaningful engagement with U.S. military counterparts or exposure to U.S. military doctrine/thought. Many of these officers also missed the other highlight of the IMET experience - direct exposure to American culture, society and POLITICAL processes. CURRENT IMET PROGRAMS ¶4. (U) We received 2 million USD for IMET in FY07 and trained 165 Pakistani military personnel with those funds. Our goal is to double the number of participants. Typically, Pakistan receives one course opening for a senior officer at each of the Senior Service Colleges - National Defense University, Army War College, Air University, Naval War College, etc. ¶5. (U) Pakistan also receives course quotas for technical courses applicable to senior-level military personnel, and would like to expand participation in these programs even further. 
 -- Intelligence in Combating Terrorism -- Joint Combined Warfighting Course -- Military Law Development Program -- Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course PROPOSAL FOR FY08 IMET SUPPLEMENT ¶6. (U) Reftel requested a training plan based on an additional 200,000 USD in Pakistan's FY08 IMET allocation. Post would focus on courses that enhance understanding of insurgencies and US counter-insurgency doctrine. Additionally, Pakistan is struggling to update its laws and procedures governing the arrest and detention of terrorist suspects. Since the intelligence officers who need training in this area are part of the military establishment, it would be particularly helpful if we could offer them courses on the legal aspects of counterterrorism. Post recommends seeking the following additional course quotas in FY08: -- Senior International Defense Management Program (1 slot) -- Intelligence in Combating Terrorism (2 slots) -- Executive Program in Defense Decision Making (2 slots) -- Intelligence and Democracy (2 slots at Center for Civil-Military Relations) -- Civil Military Response to Terrorism (2 slots - CCMR) -- Military Law Development Program (2 slots - Defense Institute of International Legal Study) -- International Law of Military Operations (2 slots - DILS) -- Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism (2 slots - DILS) -- Counter IED, Train the Trainer (10 slots) -- Military Law/Detainee DIILS MTT (30 slots) ISLAMABAD 00001073 002 OF 002 -- AH-1 Combined Maintenance Course (4 slots) -- AH-1 Airframe System Organizational Maintenance (3 slots) -- Aviation Maintenance Manager (1 slot) -- AH-1 Maintenance Test Pilot (1 slot) CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES ¶7. (C) Post recognizes there are challenges in implementing this expanded funding, but intends to actively confront and address the challenges noted below. -- Coordinating with Pakistan military leadership to ensure training proposed is in line with their priorities -- Confirming availability of personnel, as we will be seeking to include more senior officers in training programs than in previous years. -- Consulting with U.S. military schools and institutes to ensure additional course quotas can be obtained within this fiscal year -- Coordinating with Pakistan military and relevant USG entities to meet increased vetting requirements as early as possible -- Expediting the coup waiver process to expand training opportunities and build confidence of Pakistan military leadership in the IMET program. CALLING FOR EXPEDITED COUP WAIVER ¶8. (C) Effective implementation of Post's proposal to expand IMET would require the coup waiver be executed more swiftly than in previous years. In the past, the process has sometimes dragged on until summer or later. In the meantime, courses are postponed or canceled for lack of funds and the window in which to schedule courses and expend funds becomes increasingly narrow. This experience has rendered Pakistan military interlocutors somewhat skeptical of our commitment to the IMET program. COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST ¶9. (C) Post appreciates Department's responsiveness on this issue. Expanding IMET and similar programs represents a long-term investment in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship that has the potential to pay significant dividends in improved cooperation and coordination in combating terrorism in the region. Post, however, remains concerned about the impact an extended coup waiver process will have on effective implementation of IMET and requests Department's assistance in continuing to move the process forward. Now that Musharraf has removed his uniform and a free and fair election has been held, please advise what further impediments might exist to lifting the coup waiver for good. PATTERSON