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