AFGHANISTAN: CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED REPORT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000098

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2013
TAGS: EAID PREL AF KU
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED REPORT ON
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE -- KUWAIT RESPONSE

REF: A. STATE 262304


B. KUWAIT 5018

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H Jones for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

1.(C) Embassy shared data on Kuwait contributions to Afghan
assistance with officials of the Kuwait Fund. Kuwait Fund
officials confirmed that the GOK has pledged $30 million to
Afghani assistance, which represents the Tokyo pledge. They
were puzzled by the reference to a $15 million "additional
pledge." They also noted that $15 million of the $30 million
pledge has been allocated for development projects, but
pointed out that no/no disbursements have yet been made.

2.(C) Embassy suspects that the origin of the $15 million
"additional pledge" in the Washington matrix may be a comment
made by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Jarallah during the
November 2002 visit of Ambassadors Taylor and Johnson (reftel
B). Jarallah suggested that Kuwait would give to Afghan
assistance in the future, but did not/not specify an ammout
or time frame. The $15 million "additional pledge" may also
represent a misundertanding of Kuwait's intention to use half
of its $30 million Tokyo pledge (i.e., $15 million) to
support the ARTF and Kuwait's agreement to consider
committing the remaining $15 million to support the
Kandahar-Spin Boldak road project (which the GOK tells us is
still under consideration). However, as the Kuwait Fund
response makes clear, there is no "additional pledge", only
the $30 million Tokyo pledge.
JONES