Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ISLAMABAD936
2009-05-01 11:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
FOCUSING ON RENEWED IDP ISSUES
how-toVZCZCXRO4273 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0936/01 1211150 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011150Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0205 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0228 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 4824 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 1554 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 7158 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 6093 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000936
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PREF PHUM PK
SUBJECT: FOCUSING ON RENEWED IDP ISSUES
Classified By: CDA Gerald Feierstein, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000936
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PREF PHUM PK
SUBJECT: FOCUSING ON RENEWED IDP ISSUES
Classified By: CDA Gerald Feierstein, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Summary. The number of internally displaced persons
(IDPs) remains in flux as military operations continue in the
Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP); post will report specific
updates septel. Charge and PO Peshawar have been pressing PM
Gilani, the presidency and NWFP Chief Minister Hoti on the
need for increased support and coordination from the GOP in
efforts to deal with this burgeoning humanitarian crisis.
Post recommends that the need for increased
cooperation/coordination be raised during bilateral meetings
with President Zardari next week in Washington. End Summary.
2. (C) During separate meetings April 29 with PM Gilani and
Presidency Additional Secretary for the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Shahzaz Arbab, Charge raised
U.S. concern about improving Pakistani responses to the
growing problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Charge noted that in our discussions with Pakistani officials
and international NGOs, there was general agreement that
current and planned military operations could create up to
one million IDPs. This included the approximately 500,000
IDPs from FATA and Swat who now are living both in and out of
IDP camps. Frankly speaking, said Charge, our efforts to
help the Bajaur IDPs last year were too slow and too
disorganized. One of the lessons learned was that we needed
to improve the responsiveness of the UN agencies, and we are
pleased that the UN has deployed increased personnel to
manage the situation in Pakistan. We are encouraging them to
expand further.
3. (C) But a key problem that has not been solved, said
Charge, is the need for a more complete picture of what is
actually happening on the ground. For this we need improved
coordination by the Pakistani government and access to
affected areas by the aid agencies. Charge suggested that
the GOP name one point of contact through whom all the
international donors could work. He or she should be
empowered to coordinate at the national level among donors,
between the national and the provincial level, and with the
Pakistani security services.
4. (C) PM Gilani agreed that it was critical to help the
IDPs for political, humanitarian and military reasons. The
Taliban, he said, would exploit the situation of disgruntled
IDPs and begin recruiting in the IDP camps. He suggested
that the GOP would rely on existing structures, including the
National Disaster Management Agency headed by retired General
Farouq to coordinate IDP assistance. Charge pressed again,
saying that we have been working with Farouq but that perhaps
he needed to be empowered with a specific mandate to work
with the military, NGOs, the Northwest Frontier Province
government, and the U.S. He would also need expanded staff
to meet the impending needs. Gilani agreed to get back to us
after discussing the issue with his staff. Arbab, who is a
former FATA political agent from Peshawar, understood the
problem immediately and suggested that President Zardari call
a meeting on the issue with all relevant Pakistani and
international stakeholders.
5. (C) NWFP Chief Minister Haider Hoti told PO Peshawar
April 30 that he expects Dir and Buner operations to be
completed within about a week, but he appeared to have little
doubt that Swat would require a military operation sooner
rather than later. The military, he said, has expressed deep
concern about IDP numbers as a result of a Swat operation.
The CM described preparations and coordination between the
federal and provincial level, including establishment of
camps in Mardan and a directive from Prime Minister Gilani to
General Farouq, to remove federal level bottlenecks such as
"No Objection Certificate" requirements for travel by
international agencies. PO emphasized the importance of
access to areas with IDPs. Consulate Peshawar reports that
the Frontier Corps appears to be employing tactics that are
avoiding population centers and large scale damage to
infrastructure, which may account for the limited numbers of
IDPs from Dir and Buner.
6. (C) Comment: Our efforts to convince the GOP to improve
coordination on the IDP issue are paying off, but the weak
point here always is ground implementation, which requires
pushing from the top leadership. We suggest that Washington
raise the need for improved IDP coordination with President
ISLAMABAD 00000936 002 OF 002
Zardari during bilateral meetings next week.
FEIERSTEIN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PREF PHUM PK
SUBJECT: FOCUSING ON RENEWED IDP ISSUES
Classified By: CDA Gerald Feierstein, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Summary. The number of internally displaced persons
(IDPs) remains in flux as military operations continue in the
Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP); post will report specific
updates septel. Charge and PO Peshawar have been pressing PM
Gilani, the presidency and NWFP Chief Minister Hoti on the
need for increased support and coordination from the GOP in
efforts to deal with this burgeoning humanitarian crisis.
Post recommends that the need for increased
cooperation/coordination be raised during bilateral meetings
with President Zardari next week in Washington. End Summary.
2. (C) During separate meetings April 29 with PM Gilani and
Presidency Additional Secretary for the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Shahzaz Arbab, Charge raised
U.S. concern about improving Pakistani responses to the
growing problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Charge noted that in our discussions with Pakistani officials
and international NGOs, there was general agreement that
current and planned military operations could create up to
one million IDPs. This included the approximately 500,000
IDPs from FATA and Swat who now are living both in and out of
IDP camps. Frankly speaking, said Charge, our efforts to
help the Bajaur IDPs last year were too slow and too
disorganized. One of the lessons learned was that we needed
to improve the responsiveness of the UN agencies, and we are
pleased that the UN has deployed increased personnel to
manage the situation in Pakistan. We are encouraging them to
expand further.
3. (C) But a key problem that has not been solved, said
Charge, is the need for a more complete picture of what is
actually happening on the ground. For this we need improved
coordination by the Pakistani government and access to
affected areas by the aid agencies. Charge suggested that
the GOP name one point of contact through whom all the
international donors could work. He or she should be
empowered to coordinate at the national level among donors,
between the national and the provincial level, and with the
Pakistani security services.
4. (C) PM Gilani agreed that it was critical to help the
IDPs for political, humanitarian and military reasons. The
Taliban, he said, would exploit the situation of disgruntled
IDPs and begin recruiting in the IDP camps. He suggested
that the GOP would rely on existing structures, including the
National Disaster Management Agency headed by retired General
Farouq to coordinate IDP assistance. Charge pressed again,
saying that we have been working with Farouq but that perhaps
he needed to be empowered with a specific mandate to work
with the military, NGOs, the Northwest Frontier Province
government, and the U.S. He would also need expanded staff
to meet the impending needs. Gilani agreed to get back to us
after discussing the issue with his staff. Arbab, who is a
former FATA political agent from Peshawar, understood the
problem immediately and suggested that President Zardari call
a meeting on the issue with all relevant Pakistani and
international stakeholders.
5. (C) NWFP Chief Minister Haider Hoti told PO Peshawar
April 30 that he expects Dir and Buner operations to be
completed within about a week, but he appeared to have little
doubt that Swat would require a military operation sooner
rather than later. The military, he said, has expressed deep
concern about IDP numbers as a result of a Swat operation.
The CM described preparations and coordination between the
federal and provincial level, including establishment of
camps in Mardan and a directive from Prime Minister Gilani to
General Farouq, to remove federal level bottlenecks such as
"No Objection Certificate" requirements for travel by
international agencies. PO emphasized the importance of
access to areas with IDPs. Consulate Peshawar reports that
the Frontier Corps appears to be employing tactics that are
avoiding population centers and large scale damage to
infrastructure, which may account for the limited numbers of
IDPs from Dir and Buner.
6. (C) Comment: Our efforts to convince the GOP to improve
coordination on the IDP issue are paying off, but the weak
point here always is ground implementation, which requires
pushing from the top leadership. We suggest that Washington
raise the need for improved IDP coordination with President
ISLAMABAD 00000936 002 OF 002
Zardari during bilateral meetings next week.
FEIERSTEIN