Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE4309
2009-01-15 20:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

PORT SECURITY DEMARCHE - PAKISTAN

Tags:  ECON ETRD EWWT KHLS PK PREL PTER 
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P R 152047Z JAN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
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RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0000
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0000
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC 0000
UNCLAS STATE 004309 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EWWT KHLS PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PORT SECURITY DEMARCHE - PAKISTAN

REF: MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2002

UNCLAS STATE 004309

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EWWT KHLS PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PORT SECURITY DEMARCHE - PAKISTAN

REF: MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2002


1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 5-6.

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


2. (SBU) The United States Government is concerned that the
current level of port security in Pakistan does not
adequately reflect the current threat situation given recent
terrorist events in Pakistan and within the region. However,
because of the critical partnership between the U.S. and
Pakistan, including the supply of U.S. and International
Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan, and the
possible implications of additional port security measures on
Pakistan's fragile democracy, the U.S. seeks to engage
Pakistan cooperatively to address U.S. concerns regarding a
possible increased risk of terrorist exploitation of
international maritime commerce to launch attacks, including
on the United States. We want to work with Pakistan to
enhance port security measures in line with the International
Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),1974 and the
International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of
the International Maritime Organization for their port
facilities and for vessels upon arrival to Pakistan. Embassy
Islamabad should seek Pakistan's agreement to receive and to
accommodate a U.S. Coast Guard visit to discuss enhanced
security measures and to offer recommendations for additional
measures as appropriate. If these conditions are not
implemented, the U.S. Government may impose conditions on
entry of vessels arriving to the United States whenever one
of their last five ports of call was in Pakistan. Secure
Freight Initiative Port Qasim is exempt from this request.

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------


3. (SBU) The Maritime Transportation Security Act Of 2002 (46
U.S.C. 70108-70110) requires the Secretary Of Homeland
Security to monitor the effectiveness of anti-terrorism
measures maintained in foreign ports and to take action if
effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place. The
National Security Council and Homeland Security Council have
concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-terrorism
measures in Pakistan's ports. Based on an assessment of

available intelligence, and a decrease in the overall
security environment due to recent attacks against U.S.,
Pakistani, and other international interests, the Secretary
of Homeland Security in coordination with the Maritime
Security Policy Coordinating Committee (MSPCC) has determined
that the anti-terrorism measures in place in Pakistan do not
reflect the current threat situation. When such a finding is
made, the U.S. Government may impose conditions of entry on
vessels arriving to the United States whenever one of their
last five ports of call was in Pakistan.


4. (SBU) Accordingly, Pakistan, under its responsibilities
as the contracting government by the SOLAS regulations,
including the ISPS Code, is requested to immediately set the
port security posture to security level 2 for port facilities
and to impose conditions of entry on vessels upon arrival to
Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan is also requested to
host a U.S. Coast Guard visit to assess the new security
measures (under ISPS code Level 2) implemented by the
Government of Pakistan to address the increased risk. If
following a U.S. Coast Guard review of port security measures
in Pakistan's ports, it is determined that port security is
adequate, action to impose conditions of entry would be
suspended.

--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------


5. (U) Post is requested to draw on the background material
above in approaching officials in the appropriate ministries.
Please advise to whom the points were delivered, the date of
delivery, and the response. In its response, post is also
requested to provide its views regarding the likely impact of
such increased security measures in terms of both the
additional resource demands on the Government of Pakistan and
the shipping industry, and the potential public impact of
such measures. The U.S. Coast Guard is prepared to visit
Pakistan to assess the implementation of ISPS Level 2
security measures in Pakistani port facilities in
collaboration with appropriate host government officials.
Please advise if such a visit would be acceptable to the
Government of Pakistan and provide a post point of contact.
Post's assistance in arranging any visit would be
appreciated.

--------------
Talking Points
--------------


6. (U) Begin Talking Points:

- The U.S. continues to recognize Pakistan as an important
counterterrorism partner.

- Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the United
States Congress mandated that the United States Government
assess the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in
foreign ports.

- As a result of our initial assessment of information
available to us, and a decrease in the overall security
environment as shown by recent attacks against U.S.,
Pakistani, and other international interests, the United
States Government is concerned that the current level of port
security in Pakistan does not adequately reflect the threat
situation. When such a determination is made, the United
States Government, under the authority of the Maritime
Security Act of 2002, may impose conditions of entry on all
vessels sailing to U.S. ports that have called at a port in
Pakistan within five port calls of a U.S. arrival. However,
appropriate action by the Government of Pakistan would remove
the need to take such measures.

- Specifically, the Government of Pakistan, under its
responsibilities as the contracting government by the SOLAS
regulations, including the ISPS Code, is requested to
immediately set security level 2 for all of its port
facilities as defined in the ISPS Code except for the Secure
Freight Initiative port of Qasim.

- We recommend that the Government of Pakistan require that
vessels arriving at ports in Pakistan:

-- set security level 2 (as defined in the ISPS Code);

-- ensure that each access point to the vessel is guarded and
that the guards have complete visibility of the exterior
(both landside and waterside) of the vessel, while the vessel
is in port in Pakistan. Guards may be provided by the
vessel's crew; however, additional crewmembers should be
placed on the vessel if necessary to ensure that limits on
maximum hours of work are not exceeded, and/or minimum hours
of rest are met, or guards may be provided by outside
security forces approved by the vessel's master and company
security officer;

-- execute a declaration of security while the vessel is in
port in Pakistan; and

--log all security actions in the ship's log while the vessel
is in port in Pakistan.

- These are the same security measures the Coast Guard would
impose on vessels visiting U.S. ports had these vessels
docked at high threat ports during any of the last five port
calls.

- In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard would welcome an
opportunity to visit Pakistan to assess the implementation
and effectiveness of new security measures under level 2 of
the ISPS code and to exchange best practices on port
security. Such a visit would form the basis for determining
whether additional measures are needed or it any technical
assistance could be provided.

- This determination specifically reflects the U.S.
Government's assessment that Pakistan's current level of port
security does not adequately reflect the threat situation.

End talking points.


7. (U) Department invites post to provide insights and
suggestions on how best to cooperatively engage the
Government of Pakistan on this issue. Your assistance is
appreciated.
RICE