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