Pakistan-US project to monitor e-traffic
ISLAMABAD – The United States and Pakistan have established a document monitoring project to check internet traffic, including targets’ e-mails.
Well-placed sources said the joint counter-terrorism working group of Pakistan and the US has established a sub-group which coordinates the work of the ‘Document Exploitation Project’ to identify and disseminate pieces of intelligence gleaned from its review of a number of confiscated materials.
An official said a number of recent arrests in Pakistan were facilitated by the ‘Document Exploitation Project’ working group of the two countries which analyzes and reviews a large volume of seized paper documents, electronic and digital media sources, videotapes, audio tapes, electronic and telephonic equipment.
During his visit to Pakistan, Coordinator Office of the Coordinator for Counter terrorism, Cofer Black, confirmed the existence of the Document Exploitation Group on Friday and said Pakistan had shared vital intelligence information with the US originating from the group’s working.
Officials said the Pakistan-US joint working groups on law enforcement and counter-terrorism and Foreign Asset Tracking Groups share information to dismantle terrorist financial networks.
According to a source, the US Treasury Office and Pakistan’s finance ministry officials have coordinated efforts to implement a strong regime of blocking actions, fund freezes, and other initiatives to derail terrorist financing structures, including those of NGOs believed to provide financial support to known foreign terrorist organizations and affiliated terrorist cells.
An official document available with Dawn shows that the government claims to have established an effective monitoring mechanism at the grass-roots level to thwart terrorist activities.
“An effective monitoring mechanism has been devised and put in place at grass-root level to keep the activities of the extremists under observation. This monitoring has contributed positively to the law and order situation in general and reduced the risks of freedom of action of the extremists,” the document prepared by the Foreign Office said.
According to the document, Section 11 E of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 provides vast powers to law-enforcement agencies for keeping surveillance on abettors, perpetrators, financiers, trainers, instigators and the principal accused.
“The implementation of these provisions is extended up to the entire territory of Pakistan and applicable to every citizen of Pakistan,” said the document. The document notes that Pakistan has done the basic ground work to establish a ‘Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)’ to track terror financing.
It adds: “Pakistan has been actively co-operating and exchanging information with many countries around the world, with positive outcome in a significant number of cases.”
According to the document, Personal Identification Secure Comparison Evaluation System (PISCES) is being implemented under a phased programme at 20 ports of immigration, including sea and land routes.
All the ports of embarkation and disembarkation would have PISCES system by Dec 31, 2004, after which a countrywide border control system would become functional. A countrywide database of travellers is being stored in the FIA headquarters on a dedicated network, it says.
It adds that the PISCES system functions against pre-defined watch lists, including Exist Control List, Stolen Passport List, Lost Passports List, Black Listed Individuals, etc., and these lists are updated regularly.
Source: Dawn
Date:9/11/2004
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