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 You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. GRAY