NEW EGYPTIAN DONATION TO AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003112

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS EG
SUBJECT: NEW EGYPTIAN DONATION TO AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

REF: A. CAIRO 2896 (NOTAL)

B. MARCH 28 LETTER FROM MOD TO OMC

C. CAIRO 1501 (NOTAL)

D. CAIRO EG IIR 6 899 0041 05 (NOTAL)

E. STATE 4896 (NOTAL)

F. 03 CAIRO 3080 (NOTAL)

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Egyptian Ministry of Defense (MoD)
responded to ref E request, relayed through State and
military channels and reinforced by a letter of request from
CENTCOM, to donate much needed arms and ammunition to the
Afghan National Army. Egypt made an identical donation in
2003 (ref F). The MoD states that it wants to provide
airlift for a portion of this donation. End summary.


2. (C) Upon receipt of ref E request for donations of arms
and ammunition to the Afghan National Army, Post engaged
carefully with the Egyptian MoD to solicit a positive reply.
CENTCOM supplied a letter of request which helped prompt
Egypt to make an offer to essentially duplicate a donation of
materiel sent to Afghanistan in April, 2003 (ref F). The
content of the donation mirrors that requested:

-- 5,000 Automatic rifles, iron stock 7.62 x 39 mm
-- 2,969 Automatic rifles, wooden stock 7.62 x 39 mm
-- 560 Pistols 9mm
-- 1,754,000 rounds (ball) 7.62 x 39 mm
-- 400,000 rounds (tracer) 7.62 x 39 mm
-- 621,600 rounds (ball) 7.62 x 54 mm
-- 147,600 rounds (tracer) 7.62 x 54 mm
-- 49,200 rounds (armor) 7.62 x 54 mm
-- 13,500 rounds 9 mm
-- 1,635 case/belt (Grinove) 7.62 x 54 mm

All items are listed as "new" and the MoD has stated its
desire to help transport a portion of these items to
Afghanistan in spite of many operational demands placed on
its own C-130 aircraft.


3. (C) This contribution to Afghanistan builds upon a prior
donation of arms and ammunition in 2003, over 60 metric tons
of humanitarian supplies sent early in Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF),and an Egyptian military field hospital at
Bagram Air Base which has been operational for over two years
(and has treated over 100,000 patients). In addition to tens
of thousands of overflight approvals and expedited transits
through the Suez Canal, Egypt feels that it is lending
generous support to coalition efforts in Afghanistan.


4. (C) Comment: The MoD insisted that CENTCOM be involved
in this request and seeks to solidify strong ties with
CENTCOM by making this donation. The airlift component was
the more difficult part of the request, finally approved by
the MoD after Post's insistent requests, reinforced by direct
statements from CENTCOM that Egyptian participation in the
airlift effort would be a welcome sign of Egypt's engagement
in Afghanistan (ref A). Post will continue to seek Egyptian
support for stability operations in Afghanistan. End comment.


5. (U) Kabul minimize considered.


Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

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State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.

GRAY