Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3078
2008-09-21 07:50:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
how-toO 210750Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8900 INFO AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 003078
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC PK
SUBJECT: ISLAMABAD EAC MEETING
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3076 B. ISLAMABAD 3074 C. ISLAMABAD
3075
Classified By: Classified by DCM Jerry Feierstein for
reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 003078
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC PK
SUBJECT: ISLAMABAD EAC MEETING
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3076 B. ISLAMABAD 3074 C. ISLAMABAD
3075
Classified By: Classified by DCM Jerry Feierstein for
reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Ambassador chaired an EAC. All sections/agencies
were represented. RSO provided a summary of the VBIED
attack. According to latest information, it appears at
approximately 2000 hrs., an altercation between the Marriott
hotel security staff and an unknown number of people in a
sedan broke out at the perimeter screening area when the
guards barred entry of the vehicle. There were reports of
shots fired. The first vehicle then detonated followed
moments later by a second vehicle detonation at the main
perimeter screening area. MOI is reporting 1200 kg of
explosives were used in the second vehicle SVBIED.
2. (S/NF) Embassy immediately enacted emergency recall
system and quickly identified missing personnel. As has been
reported, Embassy suffered one killed and two TDY personnel
are still missing. There are preliminary reports
(unconfirmed) that the body of one of the missing staff may
have been recovered from the hotel. We are awaiting word
from Pakistani officials to make positive ID of the remains.
Ambassador advised she has passed the names of the missing
employees to the MOI to assist the GOP in searching for them
at the Marriott rescue site. Embassy RMO reported that the
body of the deceased U.S. military member has been airlifted
to Bagram AB as of 0730. He reported that one additional
ODRP member was medivac'd on the flight to receive follow-on
attention. His condition is stable. A second employee, from
RAO, will also be medevac'd to Bagram via military airlift.
The only other Embassy employee held overnight was discharged
from Shifa Hospital Sunday morning. There are no USG
personnel receiving care at any hospital; CONS is not aware
of any American citizens currently under hospital care at
this time. Embassy Health Unit treated 16 personnel for
minor injuries in the Embassy Health Unit in the aftermath of
the bombing and will be conducting follow-up checks today.
3. (C) Embassy personnel have withdrawn from the task of
covering all hospitals to identify casualties. GOP has begun
the rescue/clean up efforts at the bomb site, with Army
Rangers limiting access to the scene. Ambassador reported on
her offer to the MOI of full USG support. LEGATT advised an
FBI/DS team is available subject to a request by the GOP to
travel to Islamabad to assist in the forensic investigation.
4. (S/NF) Based on the information available, the EAC
decided on the following course of actions:
A. All visits to Islamabad and throughout Pakistan will be
scrutinized and only Mission-essential will be granted
country clearance. Many TDY visits for the coming week have
already been postponed.
B. Embassy will work with the Department to arrange
immediate delivery of pre-fabricated housing units for
assembly on Chancery compound to support very limited TDY
staff and visitor requirements. Post is not considering
moving employees from off-Chancery housing at this time; the
reality is the destruction of the Marriot has cut the number
of available rooms for visitors in half.
C. RSO will re-assess the security profile of the Serena
Hotel, the only other hotel in Islamabad that was approved
for TDY visitors. RSO has been in contact with police and
hotel security management concerning implementing additional
security measures there. The Pearl Continental Hotel in
Rawalpindi is also being reassessed in order to identify
acceptable alternatives until the pre-fab housing is
operational.
D. Lockdown status for Embassy personnel is being relaxed to
permit home-to-office and other essential travel. Personnel
have been advised that limited movement to take care of
essential shopping needs is approved since some people lost
all clothes and personal items in the blast/fire, but no
"recreational" outings are allowed. We are restricting
movement to the Serena Hotel and prohibiting patronage of the
Serena's two restaurants until further notice. (Note: These
were the last two restaurants approved by RSO outside the
Diplomatic Enclave. End note.) GOP has augmented security
patrols in our housing sectors and routine transportation
movements will be allowed for Monday. The Embassy, and all
consulates in Pakistan, will be open for normal business on
Monday. All staff will report as usual but Consulate
Peshawar will allow staff to work from their homes (septel).
E. RSO is attempting to communicate with key private sector
contacts in the aftermath of the bombing. While no formal
OSAC Country Council exists, RSO and FCS are establishing
lines of communication with this segment of Americans in
Islamabad and throughout Pakistan.
5. (C) Ambassador reminded EAC of her standing guidance on
compassionate curtailments; EAC did not know of any such
requests at this time. Embassy members will continue to work
with GOP counterparts in search and rescue efforts for our
two missing personnel and to provide any assistance the GOP
requests.
6. (U) Further information will be reported as it develops.
PATTERSON
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC PK
SUBJECT: ISLAMABAD EAC MEETING
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3076 B. ISLAMABAD 3074 C. ISLAMABAD
3075
Classified By: Classified by DCM Jerry Feierstein for
reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Ambassador chaired an EAC. All sections/agencies
were represented. RSO provided a summary of the VBIED
attack. According to latest information, it appears at
approximately 2000 hrs., an altercation between the Marriott
hotel security staff and an unknown number of people in a
sedan broke out at the perimeter screening area when the
guards barred entry of the vehicle. There were reports of
shots fired. The first vehicle then detonated followed
moments later by a second vehicle detonation at the main
perimeter screening area. MOI is reporting 1200 kg of
explosives were used in the second vehicle SVBIED.
2. (S/NF) Embassy immediately enacted emergency recall
system and quickly identified missing personnel. As has been
reported, Embassy suffered one killed and two TDY personnel
are still missing. There are preliminary reports
(unconfirmed) that the body of one of the missing staff may
have been recovered from the hotel. We are awaiting word
from Pakistani officials to make positive ID of the remains.
Ambassador advised she has passed the names of the missing
employees to the MOI to assist the GOP in searching for them
at the Marriott rescue site. Embassy RMO reported that the
body of the deceased U.S. military member has been airlifted
to Bagram AB as of 0730. He reported that one additional
ODRP member was medivac'd on the flight to receive follow-on
attention. His condition is stable. A second employee, from
RAO, will also be medevac'd to Bagram via military airlift.
The only other Embassy employee held overnight was discharged
from Shifa Hospital Sunday morning. There are no USG
personnel receiving care at any hospital; CONS is not aware
of any American citizens currently under hospital care at
this time. Embassy Health Unit treated 16 personnel for
minor injuries in the Embassy Health Unit in the aftermath of
the bombing and will be conducting follow-up checks today.
3. (C) Embassy personnel have withdrawn from the task of
covering all hospitals to identify casualties. GOP has begun
the rescue/clean up efforts at the bomb site, with Army
Rangers limiting access to the scene. Ambassador reported on
her offer to the MOI of full USG support. LEGATT advised an
FBI/DS team is available subject to a request by the GOP to
travel to Islamabad to assist in the forensic investigation.
4. (S/NF) Based on the information available, the EAC
decided on the following course of actions:
A. All visits to Islamabad and throughout Pakistan will be
scrutinized and only Mission-essential will be granted
country clearance. Many TDY visits for the coming week have
already been postponed.
B. Embassy will work with the Department to arrange
immediate delivery of pre-fabricated housing units for
assembly on Chancery compound to support very limited TDY
staff and visitor requirements. Post is not considering
moving employees from off-Chancery housing at this time; the
reality is the destruction of the Marriot has cut the number
of available rooms for visitors in half.
C. RSO will re-assess the security profile of the Serena
Hotel, the only other hotel in Islamabad that was approved
for TDY visitors. RSO has been in contact with police and
hotel security management concerning implementing additional
security measures there. The Pearl Continental Hotel in
Rawalpindi is also being reassessed in order to identify
acceptable alternatives until the pre-fab housing is
operational.
D. Lockdown status for Embassy personnel is being relaxed to
permit home-to-office and other essential travel. Personnel
have been advised that limited movement to take care of
essential shopping needs is approved since some people lost
all clothes and personal items in the blast/fire, but no
"recreational" outings are allowed. We are restricting
movement to the Serena Hotel and prohibiting patronage of the
Serena's two restaurants until further notice. (Note: These
were the last two restaurants approved by RSO outside the
Diplomatic Enclave. End note.) GOP has augmented security
patrols in our housing sectors and routine transportation
movements will be allowed for Monday. The Embassy, and all
consulates in Pakistan, will be open for normal business on
Monday. All staff will report as usual but Consulate
Peshawar will allow staff to work from their homes (septel).
E. RSO is attempting to communicate with key private sector
contacts in the aftermath of the bombing. While no formal
OSAC Country Council exists, RSO and FCS are establishing
lines of communication with this segment of Americans in
Islamabad and throughout Pakistan.
5. (C) Ambassador reminded EAC of her standing guidance on
compassionate curtailments; EAC did not know of any such
requests at this time. Embassy members will continue to work
with GOP counterparts in search and rescue efforts for our
two missing personnel and to provide any assistance the GOP
requests.
6. (U) Further information will be reported as it develops.
PATTERSON