AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE - NEXT STEPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 001018 CONFIDENTIAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2021 TAGS: PREL PTER AF MG SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE - NEXT STEPS REF: STATE 192153 CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF DEL JUNKER FOR REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) ON NOVEMBER 6, WE REVIEWED POINTS CONTAINED IN REFTEL WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER S. BATBOLD. HE STATED HE UNDERSTOOD THE GOALS OF THE U. S. POLICY. HE ADDED THA HE APPRECIATED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED AND OUR REQUEST FO COMMENT BUT WOULD DEFER COMMENT FOR THE MOMENT. ¶2. (C) BATBOLD AND A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF POSED QUESTIONS ON THREE POINTS: (1) DOES THE POLICY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RADICAL AND MODERATE ELEMENTS OF THE TALIBAN?; (2) WILL TH NORTHERN ALLIANCE BE WILLING TO SHARE POWER IF IT OCCUPIES KABUL BEFORE A COALITION IS ORGANIZED?; AND, (3) IS THE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY THAT BEING AIR- DROPPED BY THE U. S., REACHING THE REFUGEES OR IS IT BEING INTERCEPTED BY TALIBAN ELEMENTS? WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS DRAWING ON THE POINTS IN REFTEL AND ON TH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CABLES. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: BATBOLD'S NON-COMMITTAL RESPONSE IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT BOTH THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND THE PRIME MINISTER ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA TO SUPPORT U. S. POLICY IN THIS MATTER. DINGER