UPDATE ON DUBAI PROCESS ACTION PLAN FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000267 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019 TAGS: PREL EAID SNAR ETRD PK AF CA SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DUBAI PROCESS ACTION PLAN FOR PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN BORDER REF: A. 08 OTTAWA 1122 ¶B. 08 OTTAWA 704 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary and comment. The Dubai process for enhancing Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation, under Canada's facilitation, continues to move forward, as a March 27-29 workshop in Dubai underscored. There will be four new working groups -- on counternarcotics, managing the movement of people, customs, and law enforcement -- that will begin work later in 2009 on the key proposals that the two sides agreed upon at the workshop. Assistance from G-8 and other governments as well as international institutions will be integral to the success of these efforts, and there is clearly an important role for the USG to play. End Summary. Canada as Facilitator -------------- ¶2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Afghanistan Task Force Director General Renetta Siemens on April 2 briefed representatives from G-8 and selected other embassies on the March 27-29 Pakistan-Afghanistan Cooperation Workshop for the Dubai Process Action Plan. She noted that the participants had all but formalized the plan, and she provided a copy of the draft (which is still undergoing some editorial improvements). She explained that the emphasis remained on a "collective approach" under the "principle of mutuality," adding that success would rest on Pakistan and Afghanistan truly taking "ownership" of next steps, with the focus on "action, timelines, and accountability." She expressed Canada's satisfaction that the two sides had agreed to set up technical working groups on counternarcotics, managing the movement of people, customs, and law enforcement; those for the first two areas will begin meeting in July and the other two in October (after the Afghan elections). (There will not, at least for now, be a working group on the fifth area of cooperation: "Connecting Government to the People through Social and Economic Development. She encouraged the two governments first to whittle down their more than $2 billion assistance requests.) She highlighted the need to continue momentum, and explained that both governments had expressed the hope that Canada would continue as a facilitator. She noted that there would be a meeting of interested governments (tentatively called the "Senior Steering Group") in November or December as a sort of oversight mechanism. Siemens will also brief on these latest developments at the G-8 Asia Directors Meeting, and expressed the hope for support from G-8 and other partner governments, especially including the U.S. ¶3. (C) Siemens expressed special appreciation for the helpful role of the U.S. Border Management Task Force. ¶4. (C) Senior Policy Advisor Rhett Sangster highlighted as encouraging signs of practical progress that: -- Pakistan had drafted a customs agreement and presented it to Afghanistan; -- Pakistan will draft an MOU on keeping crossing points open seven days a week (at present, only one is); -- Afghanistan will draft an MOU by July on counternarcotics cooperation; -- Afghanistan will draft an MOU by December on the movement of people, with special attention to the definition of "migrant workers;" -- use of Pakistani biometric equipment will begin at three border crossing points by January 2010; and, -- there will be a draft MOU (still unclear whether by Pakistan or Afghanistan) on law enforcement cooperation following reciprocal visits of relevant officials. Qfollowing reciprocal visits of relevant officials. Action Plan details -------------- ¶5. (C) COUNTERNARCOTICS. Key proposals include: -- improving information- and intelligence-sharing between Afghan and Pakistani counternarcotics officials, and an MOU in place by November 2009; -- conducting joint counternarcotics exercises and activities; -- inhibiting the illegal shipment of precursor chemicals into Pakistan and Afghanistan; -- establishing, upgrading, and expanding drug treatment centers for addicts, in consultation with UNODC; -- engaging community leaders to gain support for anti-narcotics efforts, with Canada to provide examples of Royal Canadian Mounted Police community anti-drug programs; and, -- establishing a pilot project Border Liaison Office at Torkham, probably by February 2010. OTTAWA 00000267 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) MANAGING THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE. Key proposals include: -- developing mutually compatible permits for vehicles and drivers crossing frequently, with a feasibility study by July 2010; -- instituting mutually compatible biometric systems; -- developing liaison offices, as agreed upon in the UNODC Triangular Initiative, probably by January 2010; -- clarifying the definition and procedures for managing migrant workers by February 2010; -- establishing mechanisms for "real time" information-sharing on security and intelligence by March 2010; -- developing mechanisms to coordinate patrolling and operations to interdict illegal travelers by November 2009; -- exchanging visits of migration officials to examine best practices in training; -- joint training of immigration staff. ¶7. (C) LAW ENFORCEMENT. Key proposals include: -- developing an MOU to establish procedures for regular and ad hoc meetings between officials and local focal points by April 2010; -- building further confidence and trust between Afghan and Pakistani law enforcement officers; -- including Customs Department, Federal Investigation Agency, Political Administration, and Anti-Narcotic Force in Border Flag Meetings; -- improving the capacity of law enforcement agencies through the provision of needed latest equipment and training; -- improving information- and "real time" intelligence-sharing as well as communications and training. ¶8. (C) CUSTOMS. Key proposals include: -- opening crossing points seven days per week from sun-up to sun-down, with an MOU in place by October 2009; -- modernizing the Waish-Chaman Crossing Point facilities (Afghan side),beginning construction by January 2010; -- modernizing the Torkham Crossing Point facilities, beginning construction by August 2011; -- modernizing the Ghulam Khan Crossing Point facilities (both sides),beginning construction by August 2011 and finishing construction by August 2013; -- developing a Bilateral Customs Agreement by March 2010; -- sharing relevant customs information through a Joint Electronic Data Interface system; -- updating the Afghan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement (APTTA) by March 2010; -- organizing joint education seminars for traders and brokers; -- developing multilingual information projects for traders; and, -- developing the concept for a Joint Customs Academy. 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