VZCZCXRO5366
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #5019/01 3301315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261315Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3459
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 7833
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2327
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2732
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8183
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4170
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE 2684

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 005019 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS SNAR PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE (11/26/07) 
 
REF:  ISLAMABAD 4601 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Construction crews broke ground for the Border 
Coordination Center (BCC) at Torkham November 17. Design teams 
working on the Frontier Corps Training Center (FCTC) at Warsak will 
return within the week to refine construction timelines. The UK may 
proceed (ahead of the US) with efforts under the Security 
Development Plan for western Pakistan to improve Frontier Corps 
capabilities in Baluchistan. USAID's Office of Transition 
Initiatives (OTI) is ramping up its FATA program, with Implementing 
Partners based in Peshawar set to begin work in December. The FATA 
Secretariat has expressed interest in upgrading a British era 
 
SIPDIS 
highway in South Waziristan. NAS has assisted in improving radio 
communication between the FATA Secretariat and project offices. And, 
the FATA Construction Unit is expected to be operational in early 
¶2008.  Also, note the ambassador's proposal for an OIG audit review 
of FATA programs (para 2).  END SUMMARY. 
 
FATA Programmatic Audit Proposal 
-------------------------------- 
¶2.  (SBU) In light of the scope and complexity of FATA development 
programs, the Ambassador would like to initiate an open contract 
through the Office of the Inspector General to conduct periodic 
financial audits, in accordance with a request from the House 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This audit would 
review the program's contracts, inventories, and overall spending to 
ensure the highest levels of transparency and accountability. FATA 
Coordinator will be in direct contact with OIG to discuss this. 
 
ODRP:  Progress on the Torkham BCC 
---------------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU) Construction began at the Torkham Border Coordination 
Center, with ground-breaking on November 17. Work continues with 
perimeter wall installation, excavation of a site for cement 
building pads, and digging of an 80 meter well. The contractor has 
submitted required drawings to DOD-CN to get official notice to 
proceed on the building pads. ODRP continues to monitor progress to 
ensure coordination between building contractors and those hired to 
construct the center's communications installation. CJTF-82 has 
issued invitations through Coalition LNOs for an implementation 
meeting on November 30; while that date may slip, we hope at least 
to have more detail on participants/action officers for future 
coordination meetings. 
 
Frontier Corps Training Center 
------------------------------ 
¶4. (SBU) Contractor for the FCTC at Warsak intends to return with a 
design team within the week to refine project design and firm up the 
timeline. The facility, to be built with 2007 supplemental funding, 
includes classrooms for 450 students, quarters for 100 Pakistani 
instructors, barracks, a 300-person mess hall and a headquarters 
office. ODRP is working with the contractors to identify ways to cut 
costs so that we can construct billets for Coalition instructors. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The first shipment of vehicles and equipment at the FCTC is 
expected in mid-January 2008 and will include body armor/helmets for 
1050 troops, 540 combat lifesaver kits, nine ambulances, 60 Hilux 
vehicles, 30 two and a half ton troop carriers, four water trucks 
and 20 motorcycles. 28 Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR), on a 
six-month production timeline, are expected to arrive in Pakistan 
shortly thereafter. 
 
United Kingdom Support 
---------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) UK lead for the western Pakistan Security Development Plan 
(SDP) informed ODRP on November 26 that he intends to recommend the 
UK begin planning for SDP Phase II, the effort to improve Frontier 
Corps Baluchistan capabilities. The UK is concerned that the delays 
the US had had gaining formal approval of the SDP will jeopardize 
their ability to improve the security situation in Baluchistan 
adjacent to their Area of Operation on the Afghan side. Their intent 
is to finalize planning and solicit resources for development of a 
training center that will include infrastructure development and 
course development support. 
 
OTI Update 
---------- 
¶7. (SBU) USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives is ramping up its 
program. Creative Associates International and the International 
Office of Migration (IOM) have been selected as OTI's implementing 
partners. Pending final negotiations, the OTI Country Representative 
will begin work in Peshawar in December. Partners and OTI staff 
 
ISLAMABAD 00005019  002 OF 002 
 
 
participated in a two-day kick off session in Washington. OTI 
staffing in-country is being finalized and an office is being set up 
in Peshawar, housed with USAID/Pakistan at the Consulate. Following 
lessons identified on previous OTI startups, OTI is maintaining a 
continuous TDY presence on the ground until permanent staff arrives. 
 
 
South Waziristan Security and Road Building 
------------------------------------------- 
¶8. (SBU) "Quiet, but not secure" describes current conditions 
throughout much of South Waziristan, the scene of fierce fighting 
between government forces and militants earlier this year. During 
our November 21 meetings at the FATA Secretariat, officials pointed 
to signs of a somewhat more permissive environment and suggested 
consideration of a road-building project in the agency. Their 
proposal floated to NAS involved reconstruction of a British era 
highway running from the eastern agency boundary into the South 
Waziristan heartland. Separately, NAS Director held frank 
discussions with Pakistani Corps of Engineers officers to review a 
lack of progress and accountability on a NAS-funded FATA 
road-building project. 
 
Capacity Building 
----------------- 
¶9. (SBU) A final meeting (November 27) will open the way for the 
FATA Construction Unit to be operational in the next 2-3 months. In 
November, NAS also established improved radio communication between 
FATA Secretariat offices and project offices in each of the seven 
Political Agencies and is training FATA technicians in radio repair. 
 
 
PATTERSON