76668    8/30/2006 13:10    06ISLAMABAD17261    Embassy Islamabad    CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN    06STATE109356    "VZCZCXYZ0003PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #7261/01 2421310ZNY CCCCC ZZHP 301310Z AUG 06FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABADTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9215INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 6062RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITYRHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITYRUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY"    "C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 017261

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KABUL - PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016TAGS: KAWC, PHUM, PINR, PK, PREL, PTERSUBJECT: GOP RESPONSE ON DETAINEE REPATRIATION AND READ-OUT OF GTMO VISIT

REF: A. STATE 109356

B. ISLAMABAD 14210C. PORGES-SACK EMAIL - 28 AUG 2006

Classified By: CDA Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4  (b) and (d)

1.  (C/NF)  On August 25, PolCouns met LTC Imran Farooq,MoI/National Crisis Management Cell Operations, to solicithis assessment of his visit to the detention facilities atGuantanamo (GTMO).  LTC Imran said that interviews with thePakistani detainees went well.  The Pakistani delegation leftwith the impression that most of the Pakistani detainees areindividuals who were ""in the wrong place at the wrong time,""not extremists who pose a serious threat.  LTC Imran saidthat the Pakistani delegation provided an out-brief to ""thefour intelligence agencies"" at GTMO before departing.

2.  (C/NF) Imran said that the delegation discussedrepatriation of the detainees with these intelligenceagencies and the force commander at GTMO; the delegation leftwith the impression that no major obstacles remain to therepatriation of six of the Pakistani detainees. This includesSaifullah Paracha, provided that the GOP makes arrangementsto keep him in detention here in Pakistan.  LTC Imran saidthat GTMO officials told the delegation that if theGovernment of Pakistan (GOP) submits a formal request forrepatriation, it will be favorably received. Upon his returnto Islamabad, LTC Imran prepared a report for the MFA insupport of a formal request for repatriation.  In addition tosix of the GTMO detainees, Imran said that the GOP would berequesting the release of 20 Pakistani nationals currently inBagram.

3.  (C/NF)  PolCouns advised LTC Imran that the Embassy hadyet to receive a response from the GOP regarding the USGrequest for written assurances regarding access, etc. (Ref A,B), for detainees released to Pakistani custody; that itwould be important for the US to receive this before any newrequest for expedited repatriation.  (Note:  Following thismeeting with LTC Imran, Embassy received the requestedwritten assurances from the MFA on August 29; see para. 7,below. Post will fax/email a copy of the MFA note to SCA.End note.)

4.  (C/NF)  Imran warned that for the GOP to keep SaifullahParacha in custody, it would need information/evidence fromthe USG to justify his continued detention, noting thatParacha's family has a petition protesting his detentionpending in the Pakistan Supreme Court.  Without some evidenceto support a longer detention, LTC Imran said, Pakistani lawwould only permit his detention for three months. (Note:Post will pursue the question of the GOP's ability to holddetainees in custody with the MFA and other interlocutors.End note.)

5.  (C/NF)  LTC Imran concluded by requesting that PolCounspoll USG colleagues in Washington for agencies' views onprompt repatriation of the Pakistani detainees.  PolCounsagreed to solicit interagency position, but warned that itwould be difficult to share these views frankly when the GOPcontinues to leak stories proclaiming the detainees  imminentrelease to the local press.  Stressing that the USG wants towork with the GOP to resolve the GTMO cases, PolCouns notedthat this is a sensitive process that must take placequietly, not in the newspapers, so as not to create inflatedexpectations.

6.  (C/NF)  Comment:  Post appreciates word that DOD isprepared to move forward crisply with the repatriation ofcertain Pakistani detainees (Ref C) and looks forward toworking with OSD, S/WCI and SCA on facilitating this process.Post requests guidance from Department on next steps,including interagency coordination and coordination with theGOP of any press statements preceding or following therepatriation.

7.  (C/NF)  Text of diplomatic note received August 29, 2006responding to Embassy's note verbale of July 24, 2006 (Ref A):

(Begin text.)

No USA-2/16/06

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic ofPakistan presents its compliments to the Embassy of theUnited States of America in Islamabad and has the honour to

acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's note dated July 24,2006, which reads as follows:

(text of Embassy's July 24 note verbale)

The Ministry confirms that the Government of the IslamicRepublic of Pakistan shares the understanding reflected inthe Embassy's note and hereby provides the assurancesrequested regarding access.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic ofPakistan avails itself of this opportunity to renew to theEmbassy of the United States of America the assurances of itshighest consideration.

August 24, 2006

(addressed to) Embassy of the United States of America,Islamabad.

(End text.)BODDE"