Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR208
2009-10-14 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

RC-EAST MG SCAPPAROTTI DISCUSSES BORDER COORDINATION WITH PAKISTANI ARMY/FRONTIER CORPS

Tags:  MOPS PREL PTER PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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cc:
AMCONSUL KARACHI
AMCONSUL LAHORE
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
AMEMBASSY KABUL
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
CDR USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL
NSC WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
CIA WASHDC

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 ------------------C45D83 141359Z /38 
O 141418Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8260
INFO SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHINGTON DC
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
CDR USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
AMEMBASSY KABUL 
CIA WASHDC
AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMCONSUL LAHORE 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000208 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019

TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER PK

SUBJECT: RC-EAST MG SCAPPAROTTI DISCUSSES BORDER COORDINATION WITH PAKISTANI ARMY/FRONTIER CORPS

Ref: A) ISLAMABAD 2462; B) ISLAMBAD 2427


CLASSIFIED BY: Candace Putnam, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000208


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019

TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER PK

SUBJECT: RC-EAST MG SCAPPAROTTI DISCUSSES BORDER COORDINATION WITH PAKISTANI ARMY/FRONTIER CORPS

Ref: A) ISLAMABAD 2462; B) ISLAMBAD 2427


CLASSIFIED BY: Candace Putnam, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary. In an October 13 meeting with RC-East
Commander MG Scapparotti, Pakistan' 11th Corps Commander Masood
and Frontier Corps commander Tariq Khan discussed ongoing
operations and venues for cross-border cooperation. The
Pakistanis requested U.S./ISAF assistance in blocking militant
border crossings ahead of what they characterized as their
"final push" to drive militants out of Bajaur; they also noted
increased movement across the Paktika-Waziristan border. Masood
agreed with the necessity for increased U.S. troop levels in
Afghanistan but suggested that this would strain Pakistan's
infrastructure for supplying U.S./ISAF troops. Both Masood and
Khan pressed for improvements to the Pakistani side of the
Torkham border crossing. End summary.


2. (C) On October 13, MG Curtis Scapparotti, accompanied by PO
and SOC-FWD Colonel Kurt Sonntag, met jointly with Pakistan's
11th Corps commander LTG Masood Aslam and Northwest Frontier
Province (NWFP) Frontier Corps commander MG Tariq Khan.

Cooperation with FC Operation in Bajaur
--------------


3. (C) Tariq said the Frontier Corps (FC) was engaged in a
"final push" to eliminate the militant threat in Bajaur. (Note:
According to FATA ACS Habibullah Khan, the FC in Bajaur has been
augmented by three additional "wings" - battalion equivalents
for the operation. Its goal to entirely mop up remaining
militants in the Charmang valley while cutting off and gradually
tightening the noose on militants in the restive Mahmond tehsil;
both areas are on the border with Afghanistan.) SOC-FWD
commander noted that SOC-FWD liaisons would be in Bajaur October
13 to support this operation (ref A).


4. (C) Tariq passed information regarding militant crossing
points on the Bajaur-Kunar border, where he wanted RC-East
support. Tariq alleged that the GOA was actively ensuring that
the "Khan of Kunar" in Afghanistan had the financing and
supplies necessary to attack Pakistani military forces. Tariq
mentioned SIGINT indicating that safe havens have been offered
to Pakistani insurgents in Afghanistan in an effort to safeguard

force structure as the Pakistani military begins offensive
operations.


5. (C) MG Scapparotti reviewed the redeployment of U.S. forces
in Nuristan and Kunar to protect population areas and briefed
plans to coordinate blocking action with Pakistani military. He
said that RC-East was also focusing on building Afghan National
Army and Afghan Police/Border capabilities. Scapparotti offered
that his intelligence indicated that the insurgents are
increasingly having logistical problems, to include the ability
to resupply ammunition and food. Tariq asked that RC-East
consider beginning dual patrolling with the FC and other
measures to improve daily cross-border communication. In
particular, he mentioned an issue with radio frequency
compatibility. Both sides agreed to raise the issue at the next
border flag meeting.

Movement across the Waziristan-Paktika Border
--------------


6. (C) As usual, Masood was evasive about the precise timing of
the allegedly imminent 11th Corps operation against Mehsud areas
of South Waziristan. However, both sides agreed there had been
an increase in cross-border movement along the South
Waziristan-Paktika border. Their consensus was that the most
appropriate way to deal with this flow was to increase the
number of sensors; it did not make sense to position permanent
forces. Tariq said they were seeing increased action along the
Iranian border as well.

Improving Torkham
--------------


7. (C) Masood stated that the U.S. needed more troops in
Afghanistan, though the actual numbers could be debated.
However, he said, the U.S. should also factor in the need for
infrastructure along the GLOC supply lines to support such an
increase. It would take time to develop the roads, bridges, and
other infrastructure necessary on the Pakistan side of the
border to handle the increased traffic that the new troop levels
would require.


8. (C) Masood particularly raised the need to improve border
controls through Torkham. Tariq said there were two dimensions
to the problems-security and political, which increasingly
intersected. Afghan complaints about Pakistani inspections of
fruit and other trucks created a political furor that did not
take into account the reality of militants using these trucks to
smuggle guns into Pakistan. The FC was ready to build a new
gate and possibly provide security for border officials, but he
needed to convince the civilian customs and bank personnel to
man the site beyond the current 1000-1400 daily schedules.
Tariq said that the Pakistani government had "tried and failed"
to control the Pashtun truckers transporting supplies for
coalition forces in Afghanistan. He alleged that the civilian
contractors were cutting corners and at the expense of the U.S.,
and claimed that the ten NATO trucks burnt over the past weekend
were because the contractor was trying to save money by parking
where he was told not to park. Often, Tariq said, the allegedly
destroyed truck merchandise ends up in Peshawar bazaars.


9. (C) Comment: Atmospherics at the meeting, the first between
the field commanders in this sector of the border since August,
were good; notably, the Pakistani generals abandoned the usual
set power point brief for a useful exchange, and they did not
even raise the issue of the Kerry-Lugar Bill (ref B). Ongoing
cooperation and coordination of U.S./ISAF and Pakistani forces,
especially with the support of SOC-FWD, for the pending Bajaur
operation will we believe, further enhance the bilateral
relationship.


10. (U) MG Scapparotti did not have an opportunity to clear
this message.
PUTNAM