DEPUTY MINISTER DAUD BOLSTERS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 005051 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA AMBASSADOR QUINN, INL/FO, NSC FOR HARRIMAN/AMEND E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 TAGS: SNAR PGOV AF SUBJECT: DEPUTY MINISTER DAUD BOLSTERS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ERADICATION EFFORT Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ADCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (C) On December 11, 2005, Deputy Minister General Daud Daud of the Ministry of Interior (MOI),Alistair Corbett of the UK Drugs Team and Doug Wankel Director of Embassy Kabul's CN Task Force, met with General Wardak of the Ministry of Defense (MOD). General Wardak, who had previously worked with General Daud in the MOD, briefed General Wardak on the GOA's successes in reducing opium cultivation this past year and said that it was very important to Afghanistan that this reduction be preserved and increased. ¶2. (C) General Daud said that the same day during a Cabinet meeting on counter narcotics, President Karzai made it very clear that the GOA is serious about reduction of opium cultivation and wants the Governors more involved and accountable. Daud outlined some of the problems encountered last year, such as the late start, bad weather, lack of coordination, lack of Governor's commitment, etc. He went on to say that this year plans and programs such as the Poppy Elimination Program (PEP) were underway to ensure that similar problems wont reoccur in 2006. Daud highlighted the need for Governor-led eradication and said that during the next two weeks the MOI was bringing 13 Governors from key opium growing provinces to Kabul to begin discussing the operational needs and plans for Governor-led eradication which should begin sometime in January. Daud said he needs the commitment and support of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) to support the eradication effort this year. General Daud pointed to the UK and US officials and said that the UK and US are allies and key supporters of the eradication effort. ¶3. (C) General Wardak said that he wanted to help in this effort last year, but it wasn't clear then whether the ANA should be involved or whether the ANA was strong enough to become involved. Wardak said he understands that Coalition Forces have priorities for the ANA that may impede the ANA's ability to directly support poppy eradication. Wardak asked CNTF Director Wankel for his views about the ANA's role. Wankel said that he came to the meeting only to support General Daud in his efforts to ensure that the necessary coordination and communication was undertaken before the start of the 2006 eradication effort. Wankel said, any decision or discussion regarding the additional involvement of the ANA, in eradication support, should be determined by the GOA and CFC-A. General Wardak said that he felt that he could indirectly show support the MOI's eradication efforts by making ANA forces available if the "situation gets out of control." General Wardak closed by saying that the MOI can be assured of the MOD's support and he believes there are no excuses for Afghanistan not to be successful in the 2006 eradication effort. He said emphatically, "there is a way to achieve the desired results." ¶4. (C) Deputy Minister Daud hosted a meeting with CG Vecchio of ISAF to discuss eradication on December 11. Embassy Kabul CNTF Director, UK Drugs Team Member Alistair Corbett, MG Roger Lane, Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Colonel Chiapperini and the Political Advisor to ISAF also attended the meeting. ¶5. (C) General Vecchio told General Daud that ISAF considered the successful implementation of the Counter Narcotics (CN) pillar as critical to the democratic process in Afghanistan. He said that the elimination of drug trafficking was of vital interest to Afghanistan and that ISAF was ready to give all possible support to this mission. General Vecchio said his mandate is to support GOA agencies working on CN and support the UK Embassy, the lead nation on CN. General Vecchio said that the maximum effort from central, provincial and local authorities is required to achieve success. The General said that the GOA can be assured that ISAF will provide support within means and capabilities to include in extremis support, if necessary. ¶6. (C) General Daud thanked General Vecchio for his offer of support and also thanked him for ISAF's support during the Parliamentary Elections in September. Daud said that the GOA has had some achievements, some problems and some lessons learned during the past year's efforts on CN programs. As success stories, he highlighted the 48 percent reduction in opium cultivation and the new judicial system with the Counter Narcotics Tribunal (CNT) which has now received some 490 cases for review. Daud said that while Afghanistan has become a nation known for drug trafficking because of 30 years of war and the Taliban, it is now the GOA's responsibility to deal with the problem. Daud went on to say that drugs fuel terrorism and undermine the stability of the GOA. General Daud advised General Vecchio that President Karzai is very committed to CN programs, including eradication. General Daud said that the MOI was bringing in 13 key provincial governors for discussion of their operational needs and plans for eradication (Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Helmand, Badakshan, Farah, Uruzgan, Balkh, Badghis, Samangan, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pul and Kandahar). Daud said that there are three things that will negatively impact eradication this year: 1) Senlis Council's messages about the legalization of opium cultivation are confusing to farmers 2) Alternative Livelihood programs deemed unsuccessful by farmers and 3) the security situation. General Daud told General Vecchio in order to ensure success, he needs ISAF to support eradication, share intelligence on drug traffickers and help the MOI capture drug traffickers. ¶7. (C) General Vecchio thanked General Daud for his briefing and said that he was pleased to hear of the decrease in opium cultivation this year and said that he believed that the GOA's decision to conduct a "holy war" against drugs would be effective. He went on to say that ISAF would continue to support the Public Information campaign directed against drug trafficking and that messages would soon be changed to reflect the upcoming Governor-led eradication. General Lane said that ISAF would continue to share intelligence through the arrangement with the UK (as the lead nation for CN) and would welcome all opportunities to coordinate activities with eradication efforts. Lane went on to say that ISAF would not provide direct support for eradication or interdiction, because ISAF policy dictates that the GOA lead these efforts. ¶8. (C) General Lane said that ISAF believes there is a fourth problem confronting the GOA's efforts to support CN programs. He said that there is a need for stronger governance especially as related to the Governors and Chiefs of Police. Daud agreed and said that the MOI is also making plans to deal with corrupt officials, including police chiefs. Daud said it is important that the rule of law become stronger so that there are limitations as to what traffickers and corrupt officials can control or impact. The meeting concluded with Daud and General Vecchio agreeing to work together to ensure cooperation and coordination in CN efforts. ¶9. (C) Comment: Daud is determined to ensure better cooperation, coordination and planning for the 2006 eradication effort and he sees the support from the MOD, ISAF and CFC-A as integral to his efforts. General Daud will seek a similar meeting with General Eikenberry when he returns to Afghanistan. End Comment. NEUMANN