NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - AUGUST 6, 2008

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000270 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - AUGUST 6, 2008 Classified By: CDA W. Bruce Weinrod for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting: -- Afghanistan: The International Military Staff (IMS) reported that that Significant Activities (SIGACTS) were at the highest levels since ISAF began operations, which they attributed to seasonal increases, ISAF operations in RC-South and RC-East, and opposing militant forces' increased freedom of movement in the Pakistani border areas. The IMS stressed that violence is concentrated in a small number of contested areas, and added that highway security of civilian convoys was an increasing ISAF priority. The Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee (D/CMC) described ISAF efforts to "deepen and broaden" ties with Pakistan's military, including a July 28 meeting between COMISAF and General Kayani, in which Kayani pledged to increase cooperation. In response to question about planning for elections security, D/CMC said the Afghans were still deciding what role they wanted their own security forces to play and where they needed ISAF support. -- Balkans: The Deputy Secretary General (D/SYG) announced that NATO video footage of the March 17 incidents in Mitrovica had been cleared for use by NATO nations at that day's UN Security Council meeting, which would discuss a UN report on the riots. -- Africa - Support to the AU: The D/SYG drew attention to an AU request to extend NATO airlift support to AMISOM for an additional six months and hoped Allies would approve the extension -- Iraq: No discussion. -- Response to Terrorism: The Turkish representative announced that Turkey arrested eight people in connection with the July 27 terrorist bombings in Istanbul and said there is strong evidence linking the PKK to the attacks. -- Statements on Political Subjects: The French representative announced that the EU issued a statement expressing sympathy for Turkey in response to the August 1 collapse of a student dormitory that killed eighteen people. -- AOB: No discussion. END SUMMARY. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) PAKISTAN ) Major General Li Gobbi, Assistant Director of the International Military Staff's Operations Division, said the Pakistani military was continuing operations in the Swat district and is planning to support the Frontier Corps in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in ridding the area of training camps over the next 30 days. ¶3. (C/NF) AFGHAN-PAK MIL-TO-MIL RELATIONS ) The D/CMC said that despite the deterioration in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, ISAF continues to "deepen and broaden" ties with Pakistan's military, to include COMISAF's second meeting with General Kayani (Chief of PAK Army) on July 28. At that meeting, COMISAF presented detailed evidence of cross-border attacks into Afghanistan and stressed the need for improved coordination to stop them. Kayani confirmed his intent to expand cooperation and confirmed his plans to attend the August 19 meeting of the Tripartite Commission (TPC). ¶4. (C/NF) ISAF SECURITY SITUATION ) MG Li Gobbi noted that Significant Activities (SIGACTS) were at the highest levels since ISAF began operations. The main factors in this situation were the seasonal increase of OMF activities, increased ISAF/ANSF/CF operations tempo in RC-South and USNATO 00000270 002 OF 003 RC-East, and OMF actions to maintain Freedom of Movement (FoM) in the FATA and NWFP. MG Li Gobbi noted that despite the perception that the entire country was experiencing less security; in actuality OMF attacks are concentrated in relatively few areas. Additionally, he briefed that highway security of civilian convoys is an ISAF priority, and that deliberate operations were planned in RCs East, South and West to secure supply routes. ¶5. (C/NF) ISAF OPERATIONS ) In RC-Capital, the French assumed command from the Italian contingent. In RC-North, the German quick reaction force is operating with ANSF, and increasing support to ANP in Samangan Province. In RC-West, attacks on main supply routes (MSRs) in Herat and Farah provinces continue to complicate ISAF FoM. In RC-South, civilian convoys remain the OMF's preferred targets, which they attack with direct fire and IEDs. Highway security is therefore a focus for the near term. In RC-East, cross-border indirect fire attacks continue. Additionally, OMF recently increased attacks on bridges along Highway 1, particularly in Ghazni Province. ¶6. (C/NF) The UK representative stated that there seemed to be a difference of style of OMF attacks in RC-S and RC-E attacks, with asymmetrical attacks in RC-South and conventional attacks with larger units in RC-East. The Canadian representative asked if there was any more information on the role ISAF will provide in the election process. The D/CMC answered that the difference between RC-East and -South OMF tactics are based on different local commanders, with different local objectives, and different terrain offering varying advantages. The mountainous terrain in RC-E and proximity to safe havens in Pakistan allow OMF to amass troops and launch cross-border attacks, whereas the desert terrain on the border in RC-S makes large formations vulnerable to air attack. He also characterized planning for election security as very "early in the game" and said that, while it was agreed that the ANP would provide the first ring of security, ANA the second, and ISAF the third, decisions beyond that were limited. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) The D/SYG informed the NAC that the UN Security Council will on Wednesday debate a UN report on the March 17 incidents around the Court House building in Mitrovica. He said NATO will need to closely monitor any follow-up to the debate which could impact the Alliance, since it was expected that the Russians may use the meeting to criticize UNMIK and KFOR. The D/SYG also mentioned that SHAPE has authorized the showing and use of the KFOR video of the March 17 events by Allied nations at the Security Council as long as it would not be shown to the public or press and not given to non-NATO members. He said that the video is a testament to the level of violence faced by the international community and the restraint and good conduct shown by UNMIK and KFOR. The D/CMC informed the NAC that SHAPE is currently assessing its requirements for fulfilling the new tasks as well as assessing the risks KFOR would assume if transfer of authority from UNMIK to EULEX takes place in November and there is still no new political guidance in the form of revision 3 of the OPLAN. He said SACEUR would brief the NAC on the results of the assessment in September. ¶8. (C/NF) MG Li Gobbi, International Military Staff, briefed the Council on the operational and situational update in Kosovo, saying that KFOR continues to enforce a safe and secure environment. MG Li Gobbi also informed the NAC that, with the departure of a formerly dedicated Hungarian security unit, COMKFOR now has to rely on unit rotations from other multi-national task forces in order to provide force protection to Camps Vrelo and KFOR HQ in Pristina. SHAPE is currently reviewing the resourcing requirement and will seek contributions from Allies at the November force generation conference. MG Li Gobbi concluded by briefing on current USNATO 00000270 003 OF 003 UNMIK and EULEX numbers, saying that there had been a slight decrease in UNMIK personnel since last week, but overall UNMIK continues to maintain a robust force posture, while EULEX currently has 347 personnel, including 80 local hires deployed in Kosovo, out of a totally planned deployment of 1,857. Germany announced that it will contribute 1.5 million euros to the Trust Fund responsible for the stand-down of the Kosovo Protection Corps. -------------- Africa - Support to the AU -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) The D/SYG noted a document has been placed under silence (DSG(2008)0628) that would extend NATO's ongoing airlift support to AMISOM for an additional six months (until February 21, 2009) as requested by the AU in a July 25 letter. The D/SYG said extending the airlift support would send a positive message to the AU, and hoped Allies will support it. -------------- Response to Terrorism -------------- ¶10. (C/NF) The Turkish representative announced that Turkey had arrested eight people in connection with the July 27 terrorist bombings in Istanbul that killed seventeen people. He said that there was strong evidence that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was behind the attacks, even though PKK leaders have not claimed responsibility and have made statements condemning such attacks in the past. Turkey believes that the PKK is remaining silent because it fears that openly admitting an attack on innocent civilians of such scope and involving baiting tactics would undermine its public image. He also thanked NATO allies for their expressions of solidarity and support. -------------- Statements on Political Subjects -------------- ¶11. (C/NF) The French representative announced that no EU political meetings were scheduled for August. She also said that the EU issued a statement expressing sympathy for Turkey in response to the August 1 collapse of a student dormitory in Balcilar that killed eighteen people. WEINROD