PILOT COMBATANT COMMANDER INITIATIVE FUND SHOWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000671 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MARR PK SUBJECT: PILOT COMBATANT COMMANDER INITIATIVE FUND SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS REF: 2008 ISLAMABAD 3133 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In reftel, Embassy requested a CERP-like fund for Pakistan. We understand this request sparked a lively debate in Washington, mostly regarding the ability of the Embassy to oversee the funds and whether requesting such funds for Pakistan would endanger the far more generous CERP-like funds for Iraq and Afghanistan. With $2 million in Combatant Commander Initiative Funds (CCIF),we initiated a pilot program through which we are helping the Frontier Corps deliver food and medicine to civilians whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed in combat in the tribal areas. A U.S. Civil-Military Affairs team based in Peshawar is distributing these funds, and we have established reliable oversight and monitoring procedures for the over $700,000 in assistance distributed to approximately 232,000 civilians. In the next 2-3 months we plan to distribute another $1.3 million from the current CCIF account. This is a success story that is enabling U.S. Special Forces working with the Frontier Corps to win the support of the local population. End summary. FRONTIER CORPS WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS -------------- ¶2. (C) During his September 16 visit to Islamabad, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen discussed the idea of providing CERP-like assistance with Chief of Army Staff General Kayani. Kayani, as well as Interior Minister Malik, have asked for cash, because it is the most expedient method for helping Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who have fled combat purchase foodstuffs and building materials to repair/rebuild their lives and their homes. ¶3. (C) Washington was unable to find a legally acceptable means to replicate in Pakistan the CERP cash distribution programs we are implementing in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, in response to Post's request (reftel) for CERP-like funding, the Joint Chiefs of Staff generously agreed to provide $2 million for a pilot Combatant Commander Initiative (CCIF) program to meet urgent and unanticipated humanitarian relief and reconstruction needs. Working from Consulate Peshawar, a small team of Civil Military Support Element (CMSE) from the Special Operations Command (SOC) is using CCIF monies to purchase food (primarily wheat) and medicine for the Frontier Corps (FC) to distribute among families ;whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by security operations against militants. UN agencies estimate there now are over 500,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have fled combat in Bajuar, FATA and Swat, Northwest Frontier Province since combat began in August 2008. ¶4. (C) To date, there have been four projects funded from CCIF that have assisted approximately 29,000 civilian families (232,000 individuals). The first was a $42,000 purchase in January 2009 of wheat for distribution in Khyber Agency, through which the majority of fuel/drug goods transiting Pakistan for U.S./NATO forces in Afghanistan flows. The second $119,000 purchase of wheat and medicine in February was directed for security forces to distribute in the Mohmand Agency, adjacent to where the FC has been fighting in Bajaur. The third was a $223,000 purchase of wheat and medicine given to the FC for distribution in Khyber Agency. The fourth was a $220,000 purchase of wheat and medicine given to the FC for distribution in Bajaur Agency. We plan to disburse the remaining $1.3 million in CCIF funds within the next 2-3 months for food and medicine designated for Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram agencies. CCIF SPENDING OVERSIGHT -------------- ¶5. (C) A core requirement for disbursing CCIF monies is that a CMSE representative is present when the FC distributes supplies to civilians; this in turn requires an acceptable security level to allow CMSE to participate in the distribution. Project selection is based on FC recommendations, which then are vetted by the country team (to include USAID) in Consulate Peshawar to assure there are no conflicts with other projects or events in the area. Once cleared by Consulate Peshawar, project nominations are reviewed by SOC Peshawar and then submitted to the Office of Defense Representative Pakistan (ODRP). ODRP then requests the use of CCIF funds from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Once cleared by CENTCOM, the funds are released, and the CMSE team purchases the items for distribution through local agents. The FC and CMSE then coordinate the date for the distribution with local authorities. The CMSE team monitors the distribution and then sends after action reports (to include photographs of the distribution) to the approving chain of command. A WIN FOR ALL SIDES -------------- ¶6. (C) Newspaper reports (using the photos of distribution events) have chronicled the success of CCIF projects and highlighted the support these distributions are generating for the FC. Bajaur Scouts Commandant Colonel Nauman, in an interview with a local newspaper following the last distribution of food and medicine, stated, "I am very proud of this heartfelt effort to help the people of Bajaur affected by the military operations." In his last visit with CMSE, Colonel Nauman thanked the team for the work they are doing and said the FC was eager for more CMSE support. Additionally, the Military Information Support Team (MIST) Peshawar members use these opportunities to build morale through psychological operations activities within the FC itself. ¶7. (C) Comment: CCIF activities complement USAID development programs. The Frontier Corp,s job in the FATA has been to enforce often unpopular decisions, including collective punishment, made by the government's Political Agent. More recently, the Pakistan Army has used the FC as its "clear" force in COIN operations that have created significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. As the FC takes on the "hold" piece of FATA operations, they will need goodwill of the people to prevent the return of militant insurgents. Thus, FC units involved in the distribution of food and medicine acquired through CCIF have welcomed this opportunity to assist their fellow Pashtuns and build a more positive image. Post looks forward to being able to continue CCIF disbursements as the FC expands its anti-militant activities in FATA. With cash disbursements through the FC, we could provide even faster and more effective COIN-based support to local populations. PATTERSON