ISLAMABAD EAC MEETING 04/10/09

S E C R E T ISLAMABAD 000766 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2014 TAGS: ASEC PTER AMGT CACS PK SUBJECT: ISLAMABAD EAC MEETING 04/10/09 REF: A. ISLAMABAD 0762 ¶B. TD-314/024098-09 ¶C. ISLAMABAD 0714 Classified By: DCM Gerald M. Feierstein; Reason 1.4 (b)(d) ¶1. (SBU) The DCM chaired an EAC meeting on 04/10/09 to review the Mission's security posture in the wake of intelligence information (ref C) on an imminent terrorist attack in Islamabad. All sections/agencies were represented. ¶2. (S/NF) As was reported in Ref A, the MOI coordinated a series of raids overnight on 4/9-10 that netted at least four terrorists thought to be part of the Baitullah Meshud cell planning "Mumbai-like" terrorist attacks on a high profile target in Islamabad. Interrogations of the four suspects are ongoing, leading to more police operations to detain additional Meshud members. GRPO has yet to corroborate the MOI operations. ¶3. (SBU) Local media is reporting heavily on both the terrorist planning in Islamabad and the MOI-announced successes in interdicting the plots. The Islamabad police remain on their highest state of alert, having provided additional resources to US Embassy facilities, the Diplomatic Enclave, the fortified "Red Zone" of Pakistani government and select embassies and official residences outside the Enclave. Police continue to focus on close vehicle inspection at all checkpoints in the city. Government officials (the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration) called all local and private educational institutions to meetings this past week to discuss strengthening security at these institutions in the heightened terrorist threat climate. Many have closed to reassess their security profile (the International School of Islamabad has been closed for Easter recess break; EAC recommends ISI operate in their "virtual" mode for the next week). ¶4. (SBU) The DCM led an EAC discussion on GOP response to the latest round of terrorist threat information and resulting Embassy security posture. The EAC decided to continue to lower Embassy visibility through the weekend. Visits to restaurants, hotels and the large public markets in each city sector will remain restricted through the weekend, as are all large social gatherings. Embassy will return to standard transportation policy (combination of armored motor pool and personal vehicles) on 4/11 and through the weekend. We will return to a weekend schedule for support services but the EAC urged personnel to be prudent in their movements. The Embassy will be open to those who have business on the compound, Americans and local staff. Barring any major incident, the Embassy will open for normal business on Monday, 4/13. ¶5. (SBU) Additional measures to counter vulnerabilities will be addressed as circumstances dictate. PATTERSON