Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
95ISLAMABAD10938
1995-11-28 13:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
how-toO 281331Z NOV 95 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6451 INFO AMCONSUL LAHORE AMCONSUL PESHAWAR AMCONSUL KARACHI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 010938
S/CT FOR REAP/COLLINS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 245276
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 010938
S/CT FOR REAP/COLLINS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 245276
1. REFTEL REQUESTED INFORMATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S
PREPARATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM. THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO THE QUESTIONS
IN PARA 3 OF REFTEL.
2. A. HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS OF TERRORISTS.
IN NOVEMBER 1995, A KARACHI COURT CONVICTED 13 MEMBERS OF AN
EXTREMIST SUNNI MUSLIM GROUP AND SENTENCED THEM TO DEATH FOR
ATTACKS ON TWO SHIA MOSQUES IN KARACHI IN EARLY 1995. WE ARE
UNAWARE OF ANY PROSECUTIONS IN PAKISTAN IN 1995 ON CHARGES OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
3. B. HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITIONS OF TERRORISTS.
THE GOP ACTED SWIFTLY AND IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE USG IN
FEBRUARY 1995 TO EXTRADITE TO THE U.S. SUSPECTED WORLD TRADE
CENTER BOMBER RAMZI AHMAD YOUSEF. INTERIOR MINISTER NASERULLAH
BABAR HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT PAKISTAN HAS EXTRADITED TEN
SUSPECTED EGYPTIAN TERRORISTS TO EGYPT.
4. C. IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORISTS.
THE "TRIBAL AREAS" OF PAKISTAN BORDERING ON AFGHANISTAN DO NOT
FALL UNDER THE WRIT OF PAKISTANI LAW AND ARE NOT UNDER THE
CONTROL OF THE PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
FOR THE GOP TO APPREHEND SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WHO TAKE REFUGE
IN THESE REMOTE, MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.
ALTHOUGH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE ON
COUNTERTERRORISM ISSUES, MANY POLICE OFFICIALS WITH PRIMARY
AUTHORITY FOR INVESTIGATING TERRORIST CASES AND APPREHENDING
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS ARE NEITHER WELL-TRAINED NOR
WELL-MOTIVATED TO CONDUCT ANTI-TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS AND
OPERATIONS. PAKISTANI COUNTERTERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS AND
OPERATIONS ARE ALSO LIMITED DUE TO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.
INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC POLITICAL PARTIES PUBLICLY OPPOSE GOP
COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES AGAINST
TERRORISM, TERMING SUCH COOPERATION AN OPERATION AGAINST ISLAM.
5. D. RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION.
THE GOP HAS COOPERATED IN THE ONGOING USG INVESTIGATION OF THE
MARCH 8, 1995 MURDER IN KARACHI OF TWO AMERICAN EMPLOYEES OF
THE CONSULATE GENERAL, AND ACCEPTED U.S. ASSISTANCE IN THE
INVEQEMBER 19, 1995, BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN
EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD. THE GOP GRANTED A WAIVER OF SPECIALITY
FOR ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST RAMZI AHMAD YOUSEF
FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN PLOTS TO BLOW UP AIRCRAFT IN ASIA.
6. E. CT EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 1995.
DURING HER TRIP TO WASHINGTON IN APRIL 1995, PRIME MINISTER
BENAZIR BHUTTO OFFERED PAKISTAN'S FULL COOPERATION AGAINST
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. INTERIOR MINISTER BABAR HAS
SUBSEQUENTLY REITERATED THAT PLEDGE OF COOPERATION. DURING
1995, GOP OFFICIALS CLAIMED THAT THE GOP CLOSED DOWN SOME
PAKISTANI OFFICES OF KASHMIRI MILITANT GROUPS.
7. F. SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSES THE GOP OF PROVIDING TRAINING AND
MATERIAL SUPPORT TO MILITANTS OPERATING IN INDIAN-HELD JAMMU
AND KASHMIR AND ELSEWHERE IN INDIA.
GOP OFFICIALS HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT, WHILE THE GOP PROVIDES
DIPLOMATIC, POLITICAL, AND MORAL SUPPORT FOR KASHMIR, IT IS
FIRMLY AGAINST TERRORISM AND PROVIDES NO TRAINING OR MATERIAL
SUPPORT FOR KASHMIRI MILITANTS. HOWEVER, ANTI-INDIAN MILITANT
GROUPS OPERATE FREELY IN PAKISTAN AND ARE PERMITTED TO RAISE
FUNDS AND RECRUIT NEW CADRE. THIS POLICY CREATES FERTILE
GROUND FOR THE OPERATIONS OF OTHER MILITANT AND TERRORIST
GROUPS IN PAKISTAN.
THE GOP ALSO ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OF SUPPORTING
TERRORIST ACTS ON PAKISTANI TERRITORY, PARTICULARLY IN KARACHI.
8. G. PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF TERRORISM.
WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY GOP STATEMENTS DURING 1995 IN SUPPORT OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR TERRORIST ACTS. SEVERAL HIGH GOP
OFFICIALS, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO AND
PRESIDENT FAROOQ LEGHARI, DURING THE YEAR CONDEMNED TERRORISM
IN GENERAL AND SPECIFIC ACTS OF TERRORISM, INCLUDING THE MURDER
OF TWO U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL EMPLOYEES IN KARACHI, THE
KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGN TOURISTS IN INDIAN-HELD KASHMIR AND THE
MURDER OF ONE HOSTAGE, THE ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER RABIN, THE BOMBING OF THE OPM/SANG OFFICE IN RIYADH,
AND THE BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD.
9. H. SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1994.
THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN GOP COUNTERTERRORISM
POLICY IN 1995, ALTHOUGH GOP OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED AN
INCREASED WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER
COUNTRIES AGAINST TERRORISM. THE BROWN AMENDMENT, IF/WHEN
SIGNED INTO LAW, WILL PERMIT EXPANDED U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM
ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN AND MAKE COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION
EASIER.
END OF ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
HOLZMAN
S/CT FOR REAP/COLLINS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 245276
1. REFTEL REQUESTED INFORMATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S
PREPARATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM. THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO THE QUESTIONS
IN PARA 3 OF REFTEL.
2. A. HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS OF TERRORISTS.
IN NOVEMBER 1995, A KARACHI COURT CONVICTED 13 MEMBERS OF AN
EXTREMIST SUNNI MUSLIM GROUP AND SENTENCED THEM TO DEATH FOR
ATTACKS ON TWO SHIA MOSQUES IN KARACHI IN EARLY 1995. WE ARE
UNAWARE OF ANY PROSECUTIONS IN PAKISTAN IN 1995 ON CHARGES OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
3. B. HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITIONS OF TERRORISTS.
THE GOP ACTED SWIFTLY AND IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE USG IN
FEBRUARY 1995 TO EXTRADITE TO THE U.S. SUSPECTED WORLD TRADE
CENTER BOMBER RAMZI AHMAD YOUSEF. INTERIOR MINISTER NASERULLAH
BABAR HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT PAKISTAN HAS EXTRADITED TEN
SUSPECTED EGYPTIAN TERRORISTS TO EGYPT.
4. C. IMPEDIMENTS TO EXTRADITION/PROSECUTION OF TERRORISTS.
THE "TRIBAL AREAS" OF PAKISTAN BORDERING ON AFGHANISTAN DO NOT
FALL UNDER THE WRIT OF PAKISTANI LAW AND ARE NOT UNDER THE
CONTROL OF THE PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
FOR THE GOP TO APPREHEND SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WHO TAKE REFUGE
IN THESE REMOTE, MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.
ALTHOUGH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE ON
COUNTERTERRORISM ISSUES, MANY POLICE OFFICIALS WITH PRIMARY
AUTHORITY FOR INVESTIGATING TERRORIST CASES AND APPREHENDING
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS ARE NEITHER WELL-TRAINED NOR
WELL-MOTIVATED TO CONDUCT ANTI-TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS AND
OPERATIONS. PAKISTANI COUNTERTERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS AND
OPERATIONS ARE ALSO LIMITED DUE TO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.
INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC POLITICAL PARTIES PUBLICLY OPPOSE GOP
COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES AGAINST
TERRORISM, TERMING SUCH COOPERATION AN OPERATION AGAINST ISLAM.
5. D. RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION.
THE GOP HAS COOPERATED IN THE ONGOING USG INVESTIGATION OF THE
MARCH 8, 1995 MURDER IN KARACHI OF TWO AMERICAN EMPLOYEES OF
THE CONSULATE GENERAL, AND ACCEPTED U.S. ASSISTANCE IN THE
INVEQEMBER 19, 1995, BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN
EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD. THE GOP GRANTED A WAIVER OF SPECIALITY
FOR ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST RAMZI AHMAD YOUSEF
FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN PLOTS TO BLOW UP AIRCRAFT IN ASIA.
6. E. CT EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 1995.
DURING HER TRIP TO WASHINGTON IN APRIL 1995, PRIME MINISTER
BENAZIR BHUTTO OFFERED PAKISTAN'S FULL COOPERATION AGAINST
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. INTERIOR MINISTER BABAR HAS
SUBSEQUENTLY REITERATED THAT PLEDGE OF COOPERATION. DURING
1995, GOP OFFICIALS CLAIMED THAT THE GOP CLOSED DOWN SOME
PAKISTANI OFFICES OF KASHMIRI MILITANT GROUPS.
7. F. SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSES THE GOP OF PROVIDING TRAINING AND
MATERIAL SUPPORT TO MILITANTS OPERATING IN INDIAN-HELD JAMMU
AND KASHMIR AND ELSEWHERE IN INDIA.
GOP OFFICIALS HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT, WHILE THE GOP PROVIDES
DIPLOMATIC, POLITICAL, AND MORAL SUPPORT FOR KASHMIR, IT IS
FIRMLY AGAINST TERRORISM AND PROVIDES NO TRAINING OR MATERIAL
SUPPORT FOR KASHMIRI MILITANTS. HOWEVER, ANTI-INDIAN MILITANT
GROUPS OPERATE FREELY IN PAKISTAN AND ARE PERMITTED TO RAISE
FUNDS AND RECRUIT NEW CADRE. THIS POLICY CREATES FERTILE
GROUND FOR THE OPERATIONS OF OTHER MILITANT AND TERRORIST
GROUPS IN PAKISTAN.
THE GOP ALSO ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OF SUPPORTING
TERRORIST ACTS ON PAKISTANI TERRITORY, PARTICULARLY IN KARACHI.
8. G. PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF TERRORISM.
WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY GOP STATEMENTS DURING 1995 IN SUPPORT OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR TERRORIST ACTS. SEVERAL HIGH GOP
OFFICIALS, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO AND
PRESIDENT FAROOQ LEGHARI, DURING THE YEAR CONDEMNED TERRORISM
IN GENERAL AND SPECIFIC ACTS OF TERRORISM, INCLUDING THE MURDER
OF TWO U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL EMPLOYEES IN KARACHI, THE
KIDNAPPING OF FOREIGN TOURISTS IN INDIAN-HELD KASHMIR AND THE
MURDER OF ONE HOSTAGE, THE ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER RABIN, THE BOMBING OF THE OPM/SANG OFFICE IN RIYADH,
AND THE BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD.
9. H. SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1994.
THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN GOP COUNTERTERRORISM
POLICY IN 1995, ALTHOUGH GOP OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED AN
INCREASED WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER
COUNTRIES AGAINST TERRORISM. THE BROWN AMENDMENT, IF/WHEN
SIGNED INTO LAW, WILL PERMIT EXPANDED U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM
ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN AND MAKE COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION
EASIER.
END OF ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
HOLZMAN