READOUT OF DUTCH PRT RECCE TEAM TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000766

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AF NL NATO
SUBJECT: READOUT OF DUTCH PRT RECCE TEAM TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. THE HAGUE 578


B. THE HAGUE 477 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR NATHANIEL DEAN
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D)


1. (C) Summary: Acting PolCouns obtained a readout on March
23 on the recent GONL PRT recce team visit to Afghanistan
from Joost Flamand (protect),the MFA team rep. The team
visited Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Konduz, and had meetings
with Task Force Victory in Bagram and with ISAF and UN
officials in Kabul. Flamand's overall impression from the
trip was positive. He cited the UK PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif as
an appealing model, and that he saw the prime function of a
Dutch PRT as providing stability along the lines of their
deployment in Iraq. Clearly defined medevac and in extremis
support arrangements will be crucial in obtaining
parliamentary support. Flamand identified Baghlan as a
possible location for a Dutch PRT and said they seek to
partner with the Canadians, Belgians and Germans. In terms
of next steps, Flamand said MFA and MOD will seek Ministerial
approval for a follow-on GONL team visit to Afghanistan to
identify a specific location and the assets required to
undertake a PRT. This should yield a recommendation to
Ministers for a decision on Dutch PRT leadership, most likely
by the end of April. End Summary.


2. (C) Acting Political Counselor obtained a readout on March
23 from MFA Security Policy Deputy Operations Director Joost
Flamand (protect throughout) on the recent visit to
Afghanistan by a GONL recce team (REF A). Flamand
represented MFA on the joint MOD-MFA team which was in
country from March 10-20 to explore options for a Dutch-led
PRT. The team visited PRTs in Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and
Konduz. They also had meetings at Task Force Victory at
Bagram, and with COMISAF and SRSG Arnoult at UNAMA in Kabul.
The team's mission was to enhance GONL understanding of the
different types of PRTs, ISAF and OEF relations, and the
views of UNAMA, NGOs and ICRC concerning PRTs. Flamand said
his overall impression from the trip was positive. He
thought the UK-led PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif, which he
characterized as engaged more in military liaison than
patrolling, seemed like the most appropriate model for the
Netherlands. Flamand saw the prime function of a Dutch-led
PRT as providing stability similar to their current
deployment in Iraq. They would seek to create an environment
in which local institutions such as courts and police could
develop and function, as opposed to a more elaborate
operation like the German-led PRT in Konduz. Clearly defined
arrangements on medevac and in extremis extraction will be
necessary for gaining parliamentary support, but Flamand felt
those could be addressed by the NATO Forward Support Base
concept.


3. (C) Emphasizing that he was speaking on a preliminary
basis, Flamand said the team was interested in the
possibilities for a Dutch-led PRT in Baghlan. He said that
UNAMA had urged the Dutch team to explore this location,
apparently citing the newly-appointed local governor's
difficulties with local warlords. Flamand said this location
offered some logistical advantages, including an all-weather
road. The Dutch team had been advised that the area held
some economic promise which might prove useful in managing
the local population's expectations. Flamand also noted the
relative low amount of poppy cultivation in the area, stating
that the Netherlands does not want to undertake a PRT in an
area where the chief source of instability is
narcotics-related.


4. (C) Concerning possible partners, Flamand said that based
on their long history of cooperation, the GONL remains most
interested in partnering with the Canadians, Belgians and
Germans (he noted the proximity of Baghlan to Konduz). He
said an ideal long-term model for the Dutch would be a
leadership rotation with the Canadians and the Belgians along
the lines of the UK, Canadian and Dutch-run SFOR sector in
Bosnia. Working with the Canadians would also make it easier
to gain parliamentary support because the Dutch parliament
considers Canada a "big" country, and prefers that Dutch
military deployments occur in partnership with such nations.
Flamand cited Belgian C-130 lift capacity as a potentially
helpful asset. He also thought there might be the
possibility of a small Luxembourg contribution thus making it
a Benelux operation. In terms of next steps, Flamand said
the team would forward a report on the visit to FM Bot and
MOD Kamp and seek their formal approval during the week of
March 29-April 2 to dispatch another GONL team to identify a
specific location and the particular assets required. That
trip would produce a detailed recommendation to Ministers for
a decision on PRT leadership, most likely by the end of April.


5. (C) Comment: Flamand is the MFA's lead drafter of policy
recommendations concerning military deployments to
Afghanistan. As such, he works closely with Dutch MOD
Operations Chief Air Commodore Peter Cobelens (who also
participated in the recce team visit). While typically
incremental, we judge the results of this recent trip to be a
positive step towards Dutch leadership of a PRT. End comment.
SOBEL