VZCZCXRO3686
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #5140/01 3390148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050148Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3633
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 7872
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2400
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2846
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8286
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4258
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3340

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 005140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MASS SNAR PK
SUBJECT: FATA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE (12/02/07) 
 
REF:  ISLAMABAD 5019 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: We will be advising the Pakistanis on mechanisms 
to improve civil-military coordination in the FATA. Outcomes in Swat 
could be a case study for future FATA operations; effective civil 
affairs follow-up will be needed to consolidate short term security 
gains by Pak forces and reverse the recent unraveling of government 
institutions at the district level. Torkham BCC construction 
continues on track. USAID is planning for a major FATA effort; new 
staff are arriving to ramp-up the OTI program based in Peshawar. NAS 
and DEA are moving forward with border enforcement and 
counter-narcotics training. Codel Bennett and staffers were briefed 
on our FATA strategies (November 30). END SUMMARY. 
 
Encouraging Greater Pak Civil-Military Coordination 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶2.  (SBU) To enhance prospects for success in support of sustainable 
FATA development, we are identifying concrete steps - a blueprint - 
on ways to foster improved coordination among Pakistani civil and 
military officials. As a first step, Consulate Peshawar will take 
soundings at the FATA Secretariat and among Pak military officials 
working in FATA development. The goal is to have a Project Steering 
Committee mechanism in place to provide general project oversight 
and promote effective consultation with tribal leaders, NGOs, and 
Political Agents. Also, ODRP is working to bring a DOD team to 
Pakistan to develop an approach to improve civil-military 
coordination. 
 
Post-Swat Operations: a Test Case for FATA 
------------------------------------------ 
¶3.  (SBU) With Pak military sweeps driving insurgents from many of 
the areas in Swat occupied earlier this year, the government will 
soon face a need for effective follow-up. The unraveling of Swat 
governance at the district level in recent years will require a 
major effort to rebuild civil institutions. Counter-Insurgency 
experts think that outcomes in Swat will be an instructive case 
study for future government counter-insurgency lines of operation in 
the FATA (civil and military). 
 
Torkham Border Coordination Center (BCC) 
---------------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) Construction continues on the BCC, with the base of the 
perimeter wall complete and one side built to a height of three 
meters. Well drilling has reached 100 feet, roughly half the 
required depth. The project foreman and engineers are coordinating 
with CJTF-82 staff on site. The contractor has agreed to submit 
design plans for two additional guard towers and a wall that were 
not part of the original contract. Once CENTCOM approves, 
foundations for these new features can be poured prior to the onset 
of winter. 
 
USAID FATA Implementation 
------------------------- 
¶5. (SBU) USAID continues its preparation for a major FATA program. A 
contract on Capacity Building will be signed by the end of December. 
A technical committee has reviewed proposals for Livelihoods 
programs; short-listed contractors will be asked to submit "best and 
final" proposals in early January so that agreements can be 
concluded in February. Two of the five Health project agreements 
will be amended this month to expand FATA health activities. Under 
the Ed-Links program, USAID expects its contractor to establish 
offices and develop work plans before the end of December. 
 
USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶6. (SBU) Following a productive TDY stint focused on OTI start-up, 
Galeeb Kachra left Peshawar on  November 30. He confirmed that both 
IOM and Creative Associates (Implementing Partners) are working out 
of temporary office space in Peshawar while negotiations continue on 
permanent space and housing. OTI will participate in interviews of 
partners' key program staff; IOM and Creative expect to interact 
with the FATA Agency Development Advisor who will be co-located with 
the Political Agents. The OTI component of the FATA Development 
Program will be known formally as FATA Development 
Program-Government to Community (FDP-GC) and will use a modified 
version of the NWFP logo and the FDP-GC initials. There will be no 
use of USG or Partner "branding" on OTI projects. 
 
NAS Border Enforcement Training 
------------------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) We welcome Glen Sapp, a new member of the mission team who 
will work as a border enforcement trainer. He has a strong 
 
ISLAMABAD 00005140  002 OF 002 
 
 
background in law enforcement and worked recently in Jordan at the 
Iraqi police training facility. 
 
DEA Training Projects 
--------------------- 
¶8. (SBU) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is conducting a 
precursor chemical safety course for personnel of the Anti Narcotics 
Force and Frontier Corps, December 15-17 Training will be held at 
the FIA Academy in Islamabad and will focus on precursor chemical 
identification and safe handling practices. Participants will 
receive kits with equipment needed to process precursor chemical 
seizures safely. 
 
Codel Briefings on FATA 
----------------------- 
¶9. (SBU) Country Team briefings (Nov 30) provided Codel Bennett 
(Utah) with background on our FATA strategy and mission objectives 
on FATA development and security. Codel also included Sen. Corker 
(TN), Rep. Dreier (CA), Rep. Issa (CA), and Rep. Wilson (SC). 
Separate briefings for accompanying codel staffers included a FATA 
update. 
 
PATTERSON