VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4309 0152056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 152047Z JAN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0000
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0000
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0000
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC 0000

UNCLAS STATE 004309 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EWWT KHLS PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PORT SECURITY DEMARCHE - PAKISTAN 
 
REF: MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2002 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  See paragraphs 5-6. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶2. (SBU) The United States Government is concerned that the 
current level of port security in Pakistan does not 
adequately reflect the current threat situation given recent 
terrorist events in Pakistan and within the region.  However, 
because of the critical partnership between the U.S. and 
Pakistan, including the supply of U.S. and International 
Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan, and the 
possible implications of additional port security measures on 
Pakistan's fragile democracy, the U.S. seeks to engage 
Pakistan cooperatively to address U.S. concerns regarding a 
possible increased risk of terrorist exploitation of 
international maritime commerce to launch attacks, including 
on the United States.  We want to work with Pakistan to 
enhance port security measures in line with the International 
Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 and the 
International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of 
the International Maritime Organization for their port 
facilities and for vessels upon arrival to Pakistan.  Embassy 
Islamabad should seek Pakistan's agreement to receive and to 
accommodate a U.S. Coast Guard visit to discuss enhanced 
security measures and to offer recommendations for additional 
measures as appropriate.  If these conditions are not 
implemented, the U.S. Government may impose conditions on 
entry of vessels arriving to the United States whenever one 
of their last five ports of call was in Pakistan.  Secure 
Freight Initiative Port Qasim is exempt from this request. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
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¶3. (SBU) The Maritime Transportation Security Act Of 2002 (46 
U.S.C. 70108-70110) requires the Secretary Of Homeland 
Security to monitor the effectiveness of anti-terrorism 
measures maintained in foreign ports and to take action if 
effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place. The 
National Security Council and Homeland Security Council have 
concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-terrorism 
measures in Pakistan's ports.  Based on an assessment of 
available intelligence, and a decrease in the overall 
security environment due to recent attacks against U.S., 
Pakistani, and other international interests, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security in coordination with the Maritime 
Security Policy Coordinating Committee (MSPCC) has determined 
that the anti-terrorism measures in place in Pakistan do not 
reflect the current threat situation. When such a finding is 
made, the U.S. Government may impose conditions of entry on 
vessels arriving to the United States whenever one of their 
last five ports of call was in Pakistan. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Accordingly, Pakistan, under its responsibilities 
as the contracting government by the SOLAS regulations, 
including the ISPS Code, is requested to immediately set the 
port security posture to security level 2 for port facilities 
and to impose conditions of entry on vessels upon arrival to 
Pakistan.  The Government of Pakistan is also requested to 
host a U.S. Coast Guard visit to assess the new security 
measures (under ISPS code Level 2) implemented by the 
Government of Pakistan to address the increased risk.   If 
following a U.S. Coast Guard review of port security measures 
in Pakistan's ports, it is determined that port security is 
adequate, action to impose conditions of entry would be 
suspended. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
-------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Post is requested to draw on the background material 
above in approaching officials in the appropriate ministries. 
 Please advise to whom the points were delivered, the date of 
delivery, and the response.  In its response, post is also 
requested to provide its views regarding the likely impact of 
such increased security measures in terms of both the 
additional resource demands on the Government of Pakistan and 
the shipping industry, and the potential public impact of 
such measures.  The U.S. Coast Guard is prepared to visit 
Pakistan to assess the implementation of ISPS Level 2 
security measures in Pakistani port facilities in 
collaboration with appropriate host government officials. 
Please advise if such a visit would be acceptable to the 
Government of Pakistan and provide a post point of contact. 
Post's assistance in arranging any visit would be 
appreciated. 
 
-------------- 
Talking Points 
-------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Begin Talking Points: 
 
- The U.S. continues to recognize Pakistan as an important 
counterterrorism partner. 
 
- Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the United 
States Congress mandated that the United States Government 
assess the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in 
foreign ports. 
 
- As a result of our initial assessment of information 
available to us, and a decrease in the overall security 
environment as shown by recent attacks against U.S., 
Pakistani, and other international interests, the United 
States Government is concerned that the current level of port 
security in Pakistan does not adequately reflect the threat 
situation.  When such a determination is made, the United 
States Government, under the authority of the Maritime 
Security Act of 2002, may impose conditions of entry on all 
vessels sailing to U.S. ports that have called at a port in 
Pakistan within five port calls of a U.S. arrival.  However, 
appropriate action by the Government of Pakistan would remove 
the need to take such measures. 
 
- Specifically, the Government of Pakistan, under its 
responsibilities as the contracting government by the SOLAS 
regulations, including the ISPS Code, is requested to 
immediately set security level 2 for all of its port 
facilities as defined in the ISPS Code except for the Secure 
Freight Initiative port of Qasim. 
 
- We recommend that the Government of Pakistan require that 
vessels arriving at ports in Pakistan: 
 
-- set security level 2 (as defined in the ISPS Code); 
 
-- ensure that each access point to the vessel is guarded and 
that the guards have complete visibility of the exterior 
(both landside and waterside) of the vessel, while the vessel 
is in port in Pakistan.  Guards may be provided by the 
vessel's crew; however, additional crewmembers should be 
placed on the vessel if necessary to ensure that limits on 
maximum hours of work are not exceeded, and/or minimum hours 
of rest are met, or guards may be provided by outside 
security forces approved by the vessel's master and company 
security officer; 
 
-- execute a declaration of security while the vessel is in 
port in Pakistan; and 
 
--log all security actions in the ship's log while the vessel 
is in port in Pakistan. 
 
- These are the same security measures the Coast Guard would 
impose on vessels visiting U.S. ports had these vessels 
docked at high threat ports during any of the last five port 
calls. 
 
- In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard would welcome an 
opportunity to visit Pakistan to assess the implementation 
and effectiveness of new security measures under level 2 of 
the ISPS code and to exchange best practices on port 
security.  Such a visit would form the basis for determining 
whether additional measures are needed or it any technical 
assistance could be provided. 
 
- This determination specifically reflects the U.S. 
Government's assessment that Pakistan's current level of port 
security does not adequately reflect the threat situation. 
 
End talking points. 
 
¶7. (U) Department invites post to provide insights and 
suggestions on how best to cooperatively engage the 
Government of Pakistan on this issue.  Your assistance is 
appreciated. 
RICE