VZCZCXRO0656
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3123 2681507
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241507Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9034
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 9188
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8767
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3824
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0388
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6130
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4941
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003123 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP ASEC PTER PK
SUBJECT: MISSION PAKISTAN'S REVISED VISITOR POLICY 
 
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3106 
     ¶B. ISLAMABAD 3096 
     ¶C. ISLAMABAD 3078 
     ¶D. PESHAWAR 447 
     ¶E. PESHAWAR 436 
 
¶1. (SBU) The September 20 attack on the Marriott Hotel in 
Islamabad (Refs A-C), the August 26 attempted kidnapping of 
the U.S. Principal Officer in Peshawar (Ref. E) and the 
September 22 successful kidnapping of the Afghan 
Ambassador-designate demonstrate the increasing size and 
sophistication of attacks on U.S., diplomatic and western 
targets in Pakistan.  Credible reports of specific threats 
against westerners are increasing. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Therefore, in light of these new threat conditions, 
U.S. Mission Pakistan makes the following changes to its 
visitor policy until further notice: 
 
A)  Embassy will limit visitors (including congressional 
delegations, staff delegations, executive branch officials 
and TDY personnel) to those with Mission essential business 
to conduct. 
 
B)  Embassy strongly requests no/no overnight visitors in 
Pakistan.  As described in Ref A, USG personnel, visitors and 
contractors will no longer use hotels in Pakistan.  Until 
temporary housing can be constructed on the Embassy compound, 
all visitors and TDY personnel will be accommodated in the 
homes of Embassy personnel.  (The Ambassador's residence will 
hold a maximum of three guests at any given time.) 
 
C)  Congressional delegations and other groups of visitors 
with Mission essential business are requested to limit their 
party to four members.  It might/might be possible on rare 
occasions to host visitors of up to six members for a single 
day visit (e.g.: arrive in the morning and depart the same 
evening). 
 
D)  Requests for travel to Peshawar will be handled on a 
case-by-case basis and will only be supported for those with 
Mission essential business. (E.G.: Visitors simply wanting to 
meet with the Northwest Frontier Province Governor and the 
11th Corps Commander will be denied.) 
 
E)  There will be no/no trips to Miram Shah, Wana or other 
places in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Embassy certainly recognizes the value of 
congressional delegations and other visitors conducting 
essential business and we will arrange overnight 
accommodations for them if necessary.  Post looks forward to 
working with SCA, the Bureau of Legislative Affairs and the 
interagency to prioritize visitors and ensure they have safe, 
productive visits that further the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. 
PATTERSON