PAKISTAN: ACTING CENTCOM COMMANDER MEETS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001905

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: ACTING CENTCOM COMMANDER MEETS WITH
DEFENSE SECRETARY KAMRAN RASOOL

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: Acting USCENTCOM Commander, Lieutenant
General Martin Dempsey visited Pakistan May 12. In his
meeting with Secretary of Defense Kamran Rasool, Dempsey
stressed the U.S.'s continued commitment to our long-term
relationship with Pakistan and made assurances regarding
continuity of effort during his tour as acting commander.
Dempsey offered support to the new government's civilian
leadership, but expressed concerns regarding Pakistan's
counter-terrorism/counterinsurgency (CT/COIN) efforts in the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Rasool shared
his concerns, stating his belief that two strategies need
more time and emphasis to work: winning of hearts and minds
and political engagement by the new government. Rasool
asserted that Pakistan must pursue increased political
engagement and development to gain support of local
communities while maintaining military pressure on extremist
elements. Dempsey and Rasool both agreed to the need for
greater transparency and understanding in order to
effectively synchronize CT efforts. The meeting ended with
Dempsey pledging his support and asking for Rasool's help to
ensure those with knowledge of existing security issues would
help "steer" the new civilian government in the right
direction. End Summary


2. (C) LTG Dempsey, Major General Robert Allardice,
CENTCOM Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5),Henry
Ensher, CENTCOM Political Advisor, and U.S. Defense
Representative to Pakistan, Major General James R. Helmly met
with Pakistan's Secretary of Defense, Kamran Rasool, at the
Ministry of Defense on May 12. Dempsey began by explaining
that his role as acting commander between ADM Fallon's
resignation and GEN Petraeus' assumption is to ensure
commitment to and continuity of existing CENTCOM efforts. He
stressed that, although he has a solid grasp on the existing
issues, he wanted to take the opportunity to ensure his
perspectives were congruent with Pakistan's leadership. In
particular, Dempsey said he was eager to understand the new
government's perspective on how recent FATA agreements might
play out internationally and how this might affect the
ability to maintain commitments to shared CT objectives.


3. (C) Rasool responded that the GOP clearly recognizes
the war on terror is Pakistan's war, adding two strategies
must receive more emphasis for long-term success. The first,
focused on "hearts and minds," seeks to match military
efforts with development. Recognizing that the young and
uneducated are susceptible to exploitation in the name of
religion, greater efforts in education and development are
needed in the FATA to combat extremism. Second, Rasool
pointed to the need for increased political engagement,
accompanied by continued military pressure. He commented
that following the elections, a previous strategy of "hit
them hard" and then talk was no longer viable and must be
replaced with coordinated political and military engagement
to create "space for dialogue" by speaking from a "position
of strength."


4. (C) Dempsey parried that while such strategies could
indeed be very helpful, he wondered how Pakistan could
positively engage reconcilable elements in the FATA while
maintaining military pressure on those who are unequivocally
"irreconcilable." Rasool replied that although the
traditional strategy for the FATA has been to "marshal the
strength of the tribes," they must now look to "sweeten the
pot" with an increased emphasis on development. He raised
the point that certain legislation within the U.S. could
certainly help with such efforts, to which Dempsey replied,
while he and Ambassador could work with the Congress to solve
recent perturbations in U.S. funding to Pakistan, they must
have mutual assurances that Pakistan will continue to keep
pressure on the "irreconcilables." His concern was that
without constant pressure on militant elements in the FATA,
extremists could undermine any development efforts.


5. (C) Dempsey and Rasool then briefly discussed the
importance of transparency and complete understanding with
regard to both countries' roles and objectives in the FATA.
Dempsey commented that many counter-terrorism efforts were

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hindered by the ability of extremists to mask their
activities as tribal ones. Rasool agreed there is difficulty
in vetting intelligence regarding extremist activity because
of the tendency for such activity to run congruent to
legitimate tribal activities. They promised to work together
and ensure constancy of purpose on both sides.


6. (C) Finally, Dempsey questioned Rasool regarding the
ability to balance the threat in the FATA with that perceived
from India. Rasool responded that while focus has shifted
somewhat to the west and increased dialogue with India is
promising, such dialogue is hampered by reluctance from both
Pakistan and India to truly listen. While he believes the
differences are reasonable and both sides are close to making
meaningful headway on some significant issues, there is still
a long way to go. Talks on trade and confidence building
measures continue, but focus on such issues has been diverted
by current problems within the new civilian government.
Dempsey offered his support and asked for Rasool's assistance
in making sure that those in leadership positions with a
knowledge of the existing security issues help "steer" the
new civilian government in the right direction.


7. (U) CENTCOM POLAD, Mr. Henry Ensher, has cleared this
cable.
PATTERSON