VZCZCXRO5327
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3957/01 2551218
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121218Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1677
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1741
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7512
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2220
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7326
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1835
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3391
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0955
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 3712
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 3313
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ISLAMABAD 003957 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT ASEC OTRA PK
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CODEL BOEHNER 
 
REF: STATE 125581 
 
¶1.  Post welcomes and grants country clearance for the visit 
of Rep. John Boehner, Rep. Peter Hoekstra, Rep. Pat Tiberi, 
Rep. Tom Latham, Rep. Devin Nunes, Rep. Charles Wilson, Rep. 
Peter King, Ms. Jen Stewart, Mr. Brian Kennedy, COL Paul 
Kennedy, and GySgt Ramses Cypress, from September 14 to 
September 15, 2007. 
 
¶2.  Control officer for the visit will be POL Officer Tamanna 
Salikuddin. She can be reached at the following numbers: 
Embassy 92-51-208-2000; Office: 92-51-208-2921; fax: 
92-51-208-2559; cell 
92-0302-854-6742; email SalikuddinTS@state.gov. 
 
¶3. Visitors must/must obtain separate post clearance if they 
plan to visit any of the three Mission Pakistan consulates 
(Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore) or any other areas under the 
jurisdiction of the 
consulates. Most travel outside of Islamabad will require 
separate post clearance. Post clearance for the consulates 
should be requested via cable to the consulate(s) on the 
planned itinerary. 
 
¶4. Visas: Everyone arriving in Pakistan must/must have a 
valid visa. If you do not have a valid visa, you will be 
denied entry. 
 
If you will be in Pakistan on TDY for more than 30 days, 
ensure that you have a multiple entry visa that shows "Work 
at the U.S. Embassy" or "Official Business" as the purpose of 
your visit.  If your visa 
does not contain this language, your visa cannot be extended 
or renewed while in Pakistan and you will have to physically 
leave the country to renew or extend it. 
 
¶5.  Electronic Equipment:  Official travelers on temporary 
duty, including non-State personnel, must coordinate the 
transport of any USG provided electronic or photographic 
equipment (to include 
laptops/electronic notebooks), and receive RSO authorization 
prior to introducing the equipment into the Chancery.  No 
connectivity is allowed to State's unclassified or classified 
networks.  Personal 
electronic or photographic equipment as well as camera/video 
capable cell phones are not permitted in the Chancery. 
 
¶6.  Security:  Islamabad and the three constituent consulates 
in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar are critical-threat posts. 
Employees assigned to Pakistan are unaccompanied and receive 
danger pay.  The 
Department of State Travel Warning for Pakistan asks U.S. 
citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan because of 
the continued high security concerns about terrorism in 
Pakistan.  The Embassy 
approves only essential official travel to Pakistan.  All 
official visitors to Islamabad must adhere to Embassy 
security standards and procedures, and those staying more 
than one week must attend a security briefing held every 
Tuesday at 10 a.m.  TDY travel outside of Islamabad requires 
RSO clearance. Travelers to the consulates must follow RSO 
consulate security procedures.  The potential for continued 
threats to Americans in Pakistan from Al-Qaida and other 
extremist elements remains real.  A suicide bomber killed two 
Consulate employees at the U.S. Consulate in Karachi in March 
¶2006. A grenade attack against the Protestant International 
Church in Islamabad killed two Embassy members and injured 
several others in 
March 2002.  American, Western, and Christian targets 
continue to be threatened and attacked.  Anti-Americanism 
remains strong among certain elements of the population.  For 
further information about 
travel to Pakistan, U.S. citizens should consult the 
Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for 
Pakistan, available via the internet at 
http://travel.state.gov. 
 
¶7.  Hotel Security:  Security at major hotels in Pakistan has 
been generally good.  However, extremist elements know that 
westerners stay in and congregate at these hotels as evinced 
by the May 2002 car bomb attack outside the Sheraton hotel in 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003957  002 OF 005 
 
 
Karachi that killed nearly a dozen French engineers.  As 
well, an October 2004 bombing in the lobby of the Islamabad 
Marriott injured a number of people, several seriously. In 
January 2007, a suicide bomber detonated outside the 
Islamabad Marriott Hotel employee entrance killing one and 
wounding five others. The threat remains active. 
 
¶A. Post uses the Serena and Marriott Hotels for TDY visitors. 
Based on our continuing review of the security programs at 
both hotel, they may continue to be used to house short-term 
(seven days or less) TDY visitors. All agencies and sections 
that sponsor long-term TDY personnel (eight days or longer) 
should consider, where possible, the use of guest houses, 
residences currently occupied by PCS or TDY employees of 
their agency or section, or houses rented expressly for the 
use of long-term TDY personnel. 
 
¶B. The guidelines below must be followed by all short-term 
TDY personnel (seven days or less): 
--TDY personnel should minimize the time they spend in the 
hotel lobby and adjoining areas. 
--TDY personnel should establish a transportation schedule 
and adhere to it. They should not congregate in the lobby 
area waiting for transportation, but should arrive in the 
lobby for pick-up 
approximately one minute before schedule departure. 
--The Marriott Hotel has a private dining room for Embassy 
visitor use. Buffet breakfast service will be available 
there. TDY personnel are also encouraged to take lunch or 
diner there, ordered directly from one of the restaurants 
located in the hotel. There is no extra charge for this 
service. Room service is also available at no extra charge. 
--TDY personnel should report any security concerns directly 
and immediately to the Regional Security Office. 
 
¶C.  The Serena and Marriott have been instructed top house 
Embassy personnel in the back, away from the main roads that 
run adjacent to the front/main entrances of the hotels. Also, 
since fire fighting is 
not up to U.S. standards, post recommends that TDY personnel 
stay on lower floors in the hotels and familiarizes 
themselves with the emergency exits on their floors 
immediately after check-in. Valuables such as money or 
jewelry should also not be left behind or hidden in the room. 
 
¶8.  Public Transportation: for safety reasons, Americans are 
prohibited from using taxis and all public transportation. 
The Embassy requires that official visitors use its motor 
pool. Emergency telephone numbers: 
 
American Embassy Islamabad        92-51-208-0000 
Marine Security Guard (24 hrs)    92-51-208-2338 
Regional Security Office          92-51-208-2203/2204 
American Consulate Karachi        92-021-520-4200 
American Consulate Lahore         92-042-603-4000 
American Consulate Peshawar       92-091-526-8800 
 
¶9.  Embassy Motor Pool Services:  Post maintains a 24-hour 
motor pool.  However, the demands on the motor pool have 
increased considerably since September 2001 and motor pool 
services may not be immediately available when you need them. 
 Accordingly, Post strongly urges all TDYers either to 
provide a fund cite in their travel orders or come with 
sufficient resources in hand for the purpose of renting a 
vehicle and driver (if necessary).  The Procurement Section 
at Post can assist TDYers with vehicle rentals. Motor Pool 
cars and drivers are available for airport pick up and 
drop-offs.  An International Driver's License is not valid in 
Pakistan. 
 
¶10. Health:  The Embassy Health Unit has provided the 
following information to aid visitors and temporary duty 
employees in Pakistan: 
 
¶A. Facilities:  There are health units at the embassy and 
each of the three consulates.  The Islamabad Health unit is 
staffed by a Regional Medical Officer, a Foreign Service 
Nurse Practitioner and 
two RNs.  It provides routine medical care and basic 
laboratory services during the workweek.  It does not supply 
medications for chronic medical conditions; these must be 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003957  003 OF 005 
 
 
brought with you.  The facilities in Lahore, Karachi and 
Peshawar are extremely limited in the services they provide 
and are staffed by part-time local medical providers. 
Official visitors traveling to or working at those locations 
should bring all personal medicines with them including 
over-the-counter drugs. 
 
¶B. Access: Access to the Health Units at all Mission Pakistan 
posts other than 'good samaritan' care is limited to American 
citizen employees and contractors who are eligible for Health 
Unit services. 
 Good samaritan care is emergency care designed to stabilize 
a patient until s/he can reach or be reached by local medical 
practitioners. 
 
The following American citizen employees and contractors are 
ineligible/ineligible for Health Unit services: 
 
NON-PERSONAL SERVICES (COMMERCIAL) CONTRACTORS 
 
DIRECT HIRE EMPLOYEES PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED TO PAKISTAN 
without a 
current medical clearance from the Department of State's 
Office of 
Medical Services (MED). 
 
TDY DIRECT HIRE EMPLOYEES ABROAD FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS IN A 
CALENDAR 
YEAR without a current MED clearance. 
 
PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTORS (PSCs) unless all of the 
following 
conditions have been met: 
 
--  The PSC has a current MED clearance. 
 
--  The PSC's contract stipulates that s/he is eligible for 
MED 
services and requires the individual to have health insurance 
coverage overseas. 
 
--  The employing agency is paying for medical services under 
ICASS 
and guarantees funding for the direct charge of local 
hospitalization and medical evacuation. 
 
Agencies should review personal services contracts BEFORE the 
arrival of PSCs to determine the status of Health Unit access 
and 
must inform the Health Unit of eligible PSCs before they 
arrive. 
PSCs must submit documentation proving eligibility for 
services to 
the Health Unit. 
 
The Health Unit can provide a copy of the Health Unit 
Handbook to 
employees and contractors who are ineligible for services. 
The 
Handbook contains a list of physicians to whom the Health Unit 
refers patients and a list of acceptable hospital facilities 
and 
pharmacies in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Lahore. 
 
¶C.  Food and Water-borne Illnesses:  Visitors to Pakistan are 
at 
high risk for water-borne and gastrointestinal illnesses. 
Careful 
attention to the choice of food and beverages helps to reduce 
the 
risks.  Avoid salad bars and buffets while eating at local 
restaurants; a la carte items are your safest bet.  Meat, 
eggs, and 
vegetables should always be thoroughly cooked or steamed. 
Safe 
foods include steaming hot dishes, rice, pasta, cooked 
vegetables 
served hot, and bread products.  Foods that are moist and 
served at 
room temperature, especially peeled fruits, salads, sauces, 
egg-based foods, mayonnaise-based dishes and buffet offerings 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003957  004 OF 005 
 
 
are 
risky.  Avoid ice cream as well. 
 
¶D.  Drinks:  Safe drinks include hot tea, coffee, and 
carbonated 
beverages.  Assume all tap water is contaminated contrary to 
notices 
occasionally posted in some hotels or elsewhere.  The only 
exception 
to this rule is the tap water on the embassy compound. 
Commercially 
available water bottled in Pakistan has been found to be 
inconsistently safe for consumption.  Bottled water sold in 
our 
commissary has been judged safe.  Be sure the seals have not 
been 
broken.  Remember that freezing does not make water safe, so 
avoid 
ice cubes unless you know they have been made from potable 
water. 
Personal portable water purification systems are available 
commercially at nominal cost and can easily be transported in 
luggage as they are no larger than a tall mug.  These devices 
protect against bacteria as well as viruses and protozoa. 
 
¶E.  Malaria:  Malaria is endemic to various regions in 
Pakistan, and 
the risks of infection vary depending on location, altitude 
and 
season.  During the rainy season all visitors are advised to 
take 
prophylaxis, especially those traveling outside the major 
metropolitan centers or who make frequent trips between the 
consulates and Embassy.   Mefloquine is the preferred 
prophylaxis 
and should be brought with you during travel as it is 
unavailable in 
country except at the mission health units.  Doxycycline is an 
alternative and is available in country.  In conjunction with 
medication, visitors must also take measures to reduce 
contact with 
mosquitoes, such as wearing clothing that covers most of the 
body 
and using an insect repellent containing DEET. 
 
¶F.  Immunizations:  Visitor immunization records should be 
reviewed 
by the Department's Immunization Clinic prior to departure. 
ealth 
UNit in IslamHeaFor short-term visitors the following 
immunizations 
are recommended: hepatitis a, hepatitis b, typhoid, and 
tetanus in 
addition to usual childhood immunizations.  The rabies series 
is 
also recommended for Pakistan and should be completed before 
arriving in country.  The Health Unit in Islamabad can 
provide most 
vaccinations except smallpox, which is only available in 
Washington. 
 The consulate health units can provide a limited number of 
vaccinations depending on type needed and health unit 
staffing. 
 
¶G.  All TDY travelers are urged to take annual flu vaccination 
before international travel.  Vaccine will not be available 
after 
the current vaccination program is complete in November. 
Tamiflu, 
the flu treatment drug, is not available in country.  If 
travelers 
wish to obtain supplies for travel, they will need to consult 
their 
local provider in the U.S. for a supply prior to travel to 
Pakistan. 
 
 
¶H.  Emergency Medical Services: Emergency medical care is 
extremely 
limited in Pakistan even in major cities.  The health units 
keep 
 
ISLAMABAD 00003957  005 OF 005 
 
 
up-to-date lists of available facilities in cities in which 
the 
embassy and consulates are located.  Travelers should arrange 
for 
medical evacuation insurance either personally or through 
their 
sponsoring agency prior to their arrival in country. 
 
¶I.  Automobile and Pedestrian Safety: Overseas automobile 
accidents 
remain a major cause of death of expatriates abroad and 
Pakistan is 
no exception.  Further, vehicles in Pakistan are driven on 
the left 
side of the road, which adds another dimension to automobile 
and 
pedestrian safety if you are not used to this traffic pattern. 
Avoid driving at night if at all possible.  Use seat belts in 
both 
rear and front seats, and insist that your driver maintains a 
safe 
speed.  Stay alert crossing streets and intersections, 
especially 
after dark. 
PATTERSON