UNDER SECRETARY FEITH MEETING WITH AFGHAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 004724

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDEE)

PERSONAL FOR SECRETARY RUMSFELD; SECRETARY POWELL; DR.
RICE; GEN MEYER; DR. WOLFOWITZ; MR. HADLEY; MR. ARMITAGE;
GEN PACE; MR. GROSSMAN; GEN FRANKS; GEN CASEY; DR.
KHALILZAD; MS. ROCCA; AMB JOHNSON
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC FOR MUSTAFA POPAL AND RONALD YAGGI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2012
TAGS: AF PARM PARM PREL PRELAF AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY FEITH MEETING WITH AFGHAN
VICE-PRESIDENT/MINISTER OF DEFENSE, MARSHAL FAHIM KHAN

CLASSIFIED BY: USDP DOUGLAS FEITH, REASON 1.5 (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY
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DOUGLAS FEITH MET WITH MOD FAHIM KHAN IN KABUL ON 29
SEPTEMBER. MOD FAHIM MET WITH THE U.S. DELEGATION IN
PRESIDENT KARZAI'S OFFICE AND MADE THE FOLLOWING KEY POINTS
DURING THE DISCUSSION:

(A) MOD SAID HE SHARES U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR PEACE AND
STABILITY FOR AFGHANISTAN.

(B) COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR AN
AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY.

(C) RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT U.S.-LED ANA PROGRAM.

(D) GREATER RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL
DEMOBILIZATION/DISARMAMENT.


2. (C) USDP CONVEYED THE FOLLOWING KEY POINTS:

(A) BUILDING ANA IS INTEGRAL TO CREATING A PROSPEROUS AND
STABLE AFGHANISTAN.

(B) "AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY" AS US OFFICIALS ARE USING THE
TERM, REFERS TO U.S.-LED TRAINING EFFORT; NOT TO AFGHAN MOD
PROGRAM.

(C) MOD NEEDS TO ASSIGN MISSIONS TO THE GRADUATING BATTALIONS
AND TO EQUIP THEM.

(D) RECOGNIZE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN ECONOMIC AND SECURITY
RECONSTRUCTION.

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(E) NEED TO PRESERVE LEGITIMATE AFGHAN POLITICAL PROCESSES.

(F) GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MOD FAHIM TO PLAY A UNIFYING ROLE
FOR THE COUNTRY DURING PEACETIME.


3. (C) MOD FAHIM STRIKES A NATIONAL CHORD:

-- MOD FAHIM NOTED THE SUCCESSFUL MILITARY ALLIANCE OF THE
U.S. AND HIS FORCES AND THEIR ABILITY TO OVERCOME HARDSHIPS
TOGETHER.

-- HE AFFIRMED THE MOD'S WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE RECRUITS AND
RESOURCES FOR THE ANA. BUT NOTED THAT U.S. SUPPORT WOULD BE
WELCOME GIVEN THE MOD'S LIMITED CAPABILITIES.

-- HE SAID HE AGREED WITH USDP FEITH THAT ANA REFERS TO
US-LED TRAINING EFFORT, AND THAT ANA SHOULD NOT REFER TO THE
ARMIES OF THE REGIONAL LEADERS.

-- COMMANDER AHMAD SHAH MASOUD AND HIS SUPPORTERS LONG CALLED
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY AND GOVERNANCE.

-- TOGETHER WITH LTG BARYALAI, THE MOD IS WORKING TO
ESTABLISH ANA RECRUITING CRITERIA.

-- NATIONAL MISSION AND NATIONAL MAKE-UP FOR THE ANA IS THE
ONLY VIABLE WAY AHEAD.

-- GRADUATED ANA BATTALIONS SHOULD CONDUCT COUNTERINSURGENCY
OPERATIONS, PROJECT THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY'S POWER IN THE
REGIONS, AND SERVE TO DIMINISH REGIONAL FORCE PRESENCE AND
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LEGITIMACY.

-- TRAINING ANA FORCES IN THE REGIONS WOULD HELP DIMINISH THE
INFLUENCE OF REGIONAL MILITIAS.

-- THE SLOW PACE OF ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION WILL HAMPER
DEMOBILIZATION/DISARMAMENT/REINTEGRATION EFFORTS.

-- THE AFGHAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF WAR.

-- THE PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY 23 YEARS OF WAR
WOULD TAKE TIME TO RESOLVE.


4. (C) USDP RESPONSE

-- USDP UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN ARMY THAT HAS
SENSE OF UNITY BASED ON COMMON TRAINING AND DOCTRINE.

-- USDP NOTED DIFFICULTIES OF DISSOLVING THE NUMEROUS
REGIONAL ARMIES.

-- HE ASKED MOD FAHIM WHO, AMONG THE REGIONAL LEADERS, WOULD

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5037

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ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 COR-01 EUR-00 TEDE-00 SSO-00 SAS-00 /001W
-------------- F14125 040008Z /15
P 300721Z SEP 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC//SAB// PRIORITY 6062
JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J5// PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 004724

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED ADDEE)

PERSONAL FOR SECRETARY RUMSFELD; SECRETARY POWELL; DR.
RICE; GEN MEYER; DR. WOLFOWITZ; MR. HADLEY; MR. ARMITAGE;
GEN PACE; MR. GROSSMAN; GEN FRANKS; GEN CASEY; DR.
KHALILZAD; MS. ROCCA; AMB JOHNSON
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC FOR MUSTAFA POPAL AND RONALD YAGGI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2012
TAGS: AF PARM PARM PREL PRELAF AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY FEITH MEETING WITH AFGHAN
VICE-PRESIDENT/MINISTER OF DEFENSE, MARSHAL FAHIM KHAN

BE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP BY BEING THE FIRST TO
SEND HIS FORCES FOR TRAINING IN KABUL.
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PAGE 02 ROME 04724 02 OF 02 040008Z

-- HE ENCOURAGED THE MOD TO CONSIDER WAYS THE AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT CAN HELP DIRECT RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO
REGIONS THAT HAVE AND/OR WILL PROVIDE RECRUITS FOR THE ANA.

-- THE USG IS KEEN ON SEEING INCREASED INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN.

-- PRESERVATION OF THE COUNTRY'S LEGITIMATE POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS AND IMPROVEMENT OF SECURITY THROUGH THE ANA
WOULD PROVIDE FOUNDATION FOR INCREASED INTERNATIONAL AID.

-- USDP OBSERVED THAT FAHIM HAD HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO BE
SEEN AS "FOUNDING FATHER" OF FREE AND STABLE AFGHANISTAN.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME04724 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL