Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD2458
2008-07-21 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

GOP ACCEPTS PHASE 1 OF DHS API/PNR MOI

Tags:  EAIR ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #2458 2031522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211522Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0054
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5797
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4576
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7877
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 1578
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3543
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 8885
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5798
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4577
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002458 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018
TAGS: EAIR ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PK
SUBJECT: GOP ACCEPTS PHASE 1 OF DHS API/PNR MOI

Reftels: (A) ISLAMABAD 1587 (B) STATE 52699

Classified by: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002458

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018
TAGS: EAIR ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PK
SUBJECT: GOP ACCEPTS PHASE 1 OF DHS API/PNR MOI

Reftels: (A) ISLAMABAD 1587 (B) STATE 52699

Classified by: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 5.


2. (C) Summary: Following up on the proposed Advanced Passenger
Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) Memorandum of Intent
outlined in Reftel B, on July 21 EconOffs met with Imtiaz Kazi,
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Interior responsible for
Pakistani civil aviation, as well as an official from Pakistan's
National Crisis Management Center. Kazi said the GOP interagency had
approved Phase 1 of the API/PNR project and indicated that, if
acceptable to the USG, this part of the project might be a
deliverable during the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Washington.
Kazi indicated the GOP interagency needed additional time to
consider the remainder of the project and asked for information
regarding what other countries, particularly countries in the region,
are cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in
this regard. End summary.


3. (C) Additional Secretary Kazi told EconOffs that the GOP
interagency had approved Phase 1 of the proposed API/PNR project,
which consists of: 1) visits by DHS technical teams in order to
assess GOP technical capabilities for collecting and processing
API/PNR data, help GOP authorities lay the groundwork with airlines,
and assist the GOP in setting up necessary systems; 2) GOP issuance
of a public legal requirement for airlines, when directed, to provide
the GOP with API and PNR data; and 3) transmission of API and PNR
data from all Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) flights, as well
as flights of one other mutually agreed airline to the Pakistan Data
Center and DHS in real time. Kazi said the GOP is already passing
much of this information to the USG informally. He noted that, if
this is acceptable to the USG, the GOP would likely be willing to
announce its intent to begin Phase 1 of this project during the Prime
Minister's upcoming visit to Washington.


3. (C) Kazi noted the GOP might not need technical assistance if the
cost of the project is not great but said that, given Pakistan's
current weak economy, significant cost would require U.S. assistance.
The National Crisis Management Center official noted problems with
confusing DHS data entry requirements involving passengers living in
Pakistan but holding passports from other countries (such as Saudi
Arabia.) He said these have resulted in PIA being fined and
expressed a desire to work with DHS to alleviate this problem.


4. (C) Kazi indicated the GOP interagency needed more time to
consider the remainder of the project. He noted that it would assist
GOP decision-making to know which other countries, particularly
countries in the region, are cooperating with DHS in this regard.


5. (C) Action request: Post requests Washington agencies' guidance
whether the USG is willing to announce our intent to commence Phase 1
during the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Washington, and if so,
how soon DHS is able to send technical teams and how much funding
will be available for technical assistance. Funding, as Post has
stressed before, will be a critical issue, and we cannot fund this
project out of Post's existing programs. Regarding the remainder of
the project, Post requests guidance on how to respond to Kazi's
inquiry about what other countries, particularly those in the region,
are cooperating with DHS in this regard. End action request.

PATTERSON