ISLAMABAD UNIT COVERAGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00868R000100050151-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 25, 2007
• Sequence Number: 151
• Publication Date: August 29, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

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O ATIONS GROUP BILE
29 August 1980
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Operations Group
FROM: Chief, Field Coverage Staff
SUBJECT: Islamabad Unit Coverage
1. This memorandum attempts to delineate and prioritize
coverage projected for the Islamabad Unit. It's purpose is to
provide an up-to-date reference to aid the BBC officer in ini-
tially locating the Unit's coverage durin the survey in October
and to serve as a coverage guide for to use in expanding STAT
the Unit's activities. It is by no means definitive; propagation
factors, changes in coverage priorities, program changes and
other factors all will serve to determine the Unit's actual cov-
erage at any given time. It is expected that there will be a
good deal of sampling and adjusting of coverage through trial and
error, and a follow-up cruising survey should be scheduled for
the Summer months to relocate coverage under Summer reception
conditions.
2. Following is a "menu" of coverage which should be avail-
able to the Islamabad Unit. (The attachments provide a detailed
breakdown of this coverage.) This potential coverage is listed
generally in the order in which it should be dealt with by the
Unit, beginning with "Initial Coverage" which should be the first
order of priority during the Unit's "breaking-in" stage--probably
the first several months. As the Unit's staff gains experience,
it should begin working on the list of "Expanded Coverage".
Circumstances may dictate a different order of coverage than that
listed (some coverage, for example, will depend on the avail-
ability of language capability). FCS will provide continuing
guidance to the Unit as it gradually expands its mission.
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SUBJECT: Islamabad Unit
Coverage (con't)
Soviet Regionals
3. In its initial stages, the Islamabad Unit will concen-
trate on Soviet regional coverage. The January 1979 cruising
survey indicated that coverage in Russian and local vernaculars
should be available from as many as nine regional stations. In
some cases more than one service may be available from a single
station and in a few cases full broadcast day coverage should be
possible. Initially, coverage will be almost entirely from
Russian-language programming. However, every effort should be
made during the October survey to locate potential coverage in
the vernaculars. As language capability becomes available at
London, or possibly other bureaus, these programs can then be
sampled and added to coverage as appropriate.
Kabul Domestic Service (First Program)
4. Although Islamabad is not expected to be regularly in-
volved in coverage of the Kabul Domestic First Progran-k as long as
satisfactory reception is available to the BBC via the single
sideband circuit feeding Soviet transmitters on 19637.25 kHz, it
must be prepared to assume coverge on short notice should this
single source of reliable reception be lost to the BBC. To that
end, the October survey should determine frequencies for best re-
ception of this service at Islamabad, these should be checked by
the unit several times a week and updated as necessary.
EXPANDED COVERAGE
5. A wide variety of additional coverage should be avail-
able to the Islamabad Unit as it becomes fully operational. The
October survey should locate as much of this coverage as possi-
ble:
Iranian Regionals
6. Islamabad should be able to provide at least partial
coverage of three or four Iranian regionals stations. If possi-
ble, the October survey should determine which of the listed
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? !
SUBJECT: Islamabad Unit
Coverage (con't)
stations can be covered and should locate any available local
programming. Any local programming found should be sampled by
the Unit to determine if regular coverage is merited. Periodic
checks should be made of all audible stations to insure that
additional local programming is not available.
Tehran International (Pashto/Urdu/Russian)
7. Tehran International Service broadcasts in Pashto (to
Afghanistan), Urdu (to Pakistan) and Russian (to the USSR) should
be best heard at Islamabad. Nicosia and Tel Aviv can also hear
the Russian, but have limited or no language capability. (This
program appears to be temporarily off the air due to technical
difficulties at Radio Iran.) At least sample coverage of the
.Pashto and Urdu programs and regular coverage of the Russian will
be required. (The Pashto and Urdu casts have been sampled
previously, but for very brief periods.)
Kabul Domestic Service Second Program
8. As soon as language capability is available, the Kabul
Domestic Service Second Program should be sampled to determine if
coverage is warranted. Earlier reports have indicated that this
service repeats material carried on the First Program and that
there is no variation between material carried in the various
languages.
Tashkent Uighur
9. Islamabad should have better reception of Tashkent
Uighur casts now being taken at Gulf Bureau for processing in
Nicosia. If this is confirmed, coverage will be shifted to
Islamabad.
Kabul International (English/Urdu)
10. -Kabul broadcasts in English and Urdu to South Asia
should be best heard at Islamabad. These casts have been on
coverage at Bangkok and Gulf bureaus, but from very poor/un-
monitorable reception. With full access to the Kabul Domestic
Service now available, coverage of these casts may not be
necessary unless it can be determined from sampling that they
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SUBJECT: Islamabad Unit
Coverage (con't)
carry unique material directed at South Asian listeners. An
extended period of sample coverage from improved reception at
Islamabad is recommended.
Pakistan Domestic
11. Islamabad should be able to provide full coverage of
the Karachi Domestic Service and the regional/local services of
Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi in English, Urdu and
several local vernaculars. Coverage of Quetta and Hyderbad also
should be possible during hours of darkness. Coverage of Karachi
should be necessary only as backstop for Bangkok during crisis
periods or when the station is expected to carry important
material. As resources permit, sample coverage of the various
regional stations can be instituted to determine if local pro-
gramming merits regular coverage.
Pakistan International (Persian/Dari)
12. Karachi broadcasts in Persian (to the Near and Middle
East) and Dari should be sampled to determine if coverage is
warranted. If sampling cannot be undertaken at Gulf Bureau due
to unreliable reception, it can be done at Islamabad when re-
sources permit.
Delhi International (Baluchi/Dari/Persian)
13. Delhi broadcasts in Persian (to the Near and Middle
East) and in Dari, Pashto and Baluchi to neighboring countries
should be sampled as resources permit. The Persian casts and
possibly the Dari may be monitorable at Gulf Bureau.
Indian Regionals
14. Islamabad should be able to provide partial coverage of
several Indian regional stations in the north and central part of
the country, including Bombay and Calcutta. Sample coverage of
the latter stations can be instituted when resources permit to
determine if regular coverage is warranted. Additional cruising
will be required to locate other possible sources.
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SUBJECT: Islamabad Unit
Coverage (con't)
Kashmir Domestic
15. Islambad should be able to provide full coverage of the
Jammu, Srinigar and Azad Kashmir domestic services in Urdu, Eng-
lish and Kashmiri. Sample coverage can be instituted as re-
sources permit.
China Domestic
16. Islamabad should be able to provide reliable coverage
of three Chinese regional services--Urumqi, Lanzhou and Xinning--
for the first time. It can also provide full coverage of Beijing
Dome.stic Service casts in Kazakh and Uighur. Sample coverage can
be arranged as resources permit.
STAT
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