Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL1211
2006-03-19 13:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

NEW GOVERNOR OR URUZGAN PROVINCE TAKES OFFICE

Tags:  PGOV SOCI AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4274
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHBUL #1211 0781336
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191336Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9009
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0153
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2331
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1173
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5700
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001211 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV SOCI AF
SUBJECT: NEW GOVERNOR OR URUZGAN PROVINCE TAKES OFFICE
WITHOUT INCIDENT

REF: STATE

Classified By: TARIN KOWT PRT OFFICER RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4(B)
AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001211

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV SOCI AF
SUBJECT: NEW GOVERNOR OR URUZGAN PROVINCE TAKES OFFICE
WITHOUT INCIDENT

REF: STATE

Classified By: TARIN KOWT PRT OFFICER RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4(B)
AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Malawi Hakim MONIB, President Karzai's
appointee as new Governor of Uruzgan province in southern
Afghanistan, arrived in Tarin Kowt on the morning of March 18
nearly three weeks after his appointment. Outgoing Governor
Jan Mohammed Khan greeted Monib graciously, pledging support
and assistance to the new governor. Monib's first morning in
Uruzgan passed uneventfully as he met with Jan Mohammed and
provincial leaders at the governor's compound. Monib, who
has allied with Uruzgan's ANP Chief Rozi Khan, arrived with
45 armed supporters and plans to bring more. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) Hakim Monib arrived at the Tarin Kowt PRT airstrip on
the morning of March 18, accompanied by Interior Ministry
officials from Kabul and about 45 followers (his
chief-of-staff indicated he will bring several dozen more in
the coming days),most of whom carried new AK-47s. He also
brought medicine and blankets for the Tarin Kowt hospital.
By previous arrangement, he was met on the ground by Rozi
Khan, provincial chief of the ANP who is the rival of
outgoing governor Jan Mohammed. Khan brought two truckloads
of armed police. Once on the ground, Monib requested that
the PRT Commander and Poloff also escort him into town, which
we did.


4. (C) Monib, in his early 30s, is from a small Pashtun
tribe in Paktia province. He was Deputy Minister of Border
and Tribal Affairs during the Taliban era and appears on the
UN 1267 list. He appeared self-assured and confident during
the transition of power, speaking forcefully and smoothly
after the Deputy Interior Minister introduced him to a
meeting of provincial leaders chaired by Gov. Jan Mohammed
and read President Karzai's statement of appointment. In his
remarks Monib focused on three themes: he seeks close
cooperation with the provincial leaders and public; he will
place a heavy focus on education; and his administration will
abide by the laws of Islam and Afghanistan. Monib is an
educated man, and while trying out some rudimentary English
over lunch he explained that getting people skilled in
medicine, engineering, and computers will be key to Uruzgan's
development. At two morning meetings and at lunch, Monib
went out of his way to ensure that PRT commander and Poloff
sat front and center near to him and to Jan Mohammed, while
ANP Chief Rozi Khan lurked nearby.


5. (C) Monib was graciously received at the governor's
compound by Jan Mohammed Khan. Jan Mohammed pledged his
personal support and that of his Pashtun-Populzai tribe to
Monib's success, but did not reveal when he plans to leave
Tarin Kowt to take up his duties in Kabul at the Ministry of
Border and Tribal Affairs. Governor Monib's first hours in
Uruzgan passed peacefully and uneventfully. He will sleep in
the Governor's compound tonight and told us he plans to hold
a series of meetings in the coming days to hear the views of
Uruzgan's leaders.
NEUMANN
NORLAND