GOP CONDEMNS ALLEGED ISAF SEPTEMBER 3 INCIDENT IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002907 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER MOPS SUBJECT: GOP CONDEMNS ALLEGED ISAF SEPTEMBER 3 INCIDENT IN SOUTH WAZIRISTAN Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Late September 3, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called in the Ambassador to relay the GOP's intent to release a public statement, from the Foreign Ministry and possibly later from the Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR),condemning the alleged early morning September 3 "cross-border attack" by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) into South Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Bashir informed the Ambassador that there had been civilian casualties. He urged the USG to understand the government's political need to publicly respond, prompted by the frontier tribes. ¶2. (C) Bashir noted the overall engagement at the bilateral and tripartite levels was "good;" this incident was different from previous operations because ISAF air assets (helicopters) had been used, he claimed. Bashir also charged that action was taken without regard to the high-level understanding between the two military commands, i.e., ISAF had not taken the Pakistan Army "into confidence." ¶3. (C) The statement, Bashir stated, would convey Pakistan's "strong condemnation," note the use of helos, label the incident a "cross-border use of force," and argue that such incidents do not help the countries' "common cause" against extremism. The USG would not be specifically blamed. (Text at para 5.) He added that the National Assembly would be back in session on September 4 (prior to the September 6 presidential election) and that GOP federal ministers could be expected to take "strong positions" during plenary against the ISAF actions. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador agreed to report his comments to Washington. ¶5. (U) Begin text: Press Release Pakistan condemns attack in Angoor Adda by Coalition/ISAF forces The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the assault by Coalition/ISAF troops on a village near Angoor Adda inside Pakistani territory, which has resulted in immense loss of civilian life. This helicopter borne ground attack, supported by air assets based in Afghanistan, is (a) gross violation of Pakistan's territory. It is, indeed, most unfortunate that Coalition/ISAF in Afghanistan have resorted to cross-border use of force against civilians. Such actions are counter-productive and certainly do not help our joint efforts to fight terrorism. On the contrary, they undermine the very basis of cooperation and may fuel the fire of hatred and violence that we are trying to extinguish. Moreover, any attack on Pakistani territory is unacceptable and constitutes a grave provocation. A strong diplomatic protest is being made by the Foreign Ministry. End text. PATTERSON