PRT/LASHKAR GAH - UK OFFICIALS DISCUSS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001284

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E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL AF UK
SUBJECT: PRT/LASHKAR GAH - UK OFFICIALS DISCUSS
TRANSITION WITH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AND MULLAHS'
COUNCIL

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1. (SBU) Summary: UK officials told Provincial
Council (PC) and Mullahs' Council members in
separate meetings on March 19 that the UK mission
will last at least three years. The mission is in
conjunction with the GOA and will focus on several
areas: (1) Extending the government's authority
throughout the country; (2) strengthening security
government institutions; (3) implementing programs
for social and economic development; and (4)
assisting the government in counternarcotics. PC
members and mullahs said that security, along with
the destabilizing effect of Pakistan, is of
paramount concern. End summary.


2. (SBU) As part of its transition activities, UK
civilian and military officials conducted two shuras
(council meetings) in Lashkar Gah on March 19. The
first session was with four PC members, including
deputy chairman Haji Qurban Ali Urozgani, Al-haj
Mohammed Hassan, Haji Din Mohammed, and Salima
Sharifi. The second session included 10 mullahs
from Lashkar Gah and the nearby districts, led by
the head of the Mullahs' council, Mullah Ahmad. The
head mullah of Lashkar Gah, Mouwi Qari Mukhter Ahmad
Haqani was part of this group. UK participants
included Colonel Gordon Messenger, UK Task Force
Commander, Lt. Col. Henry Worsley, incoming PRT
commander, Nick Kay, the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO) Regional Coordinator, and Susan
Crombie, the FCO political officer assigned to the
PRT.

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WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO
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3. (SBU) The UK officials provided the same
briefing to the PC members and the mullahs. After
an introduction (in Pashto) by Lt. Col. Worsley
describing how the UK is in the midst of a campaign
to explain to district and other councils the UK
deployment, Mr. Kay said that, the UK mission is in
accordance with UN resolutions and at the request of
the GOA. The mission intends to help the GOA extend
its authority throughout Helmand; improve security
and justice; strengthen government institutions; and
advance social and economic development; and assist
the government in counternarcotics. The effort will
be international, to include Denmark, Estonia, and
the United States. He emphasized that all
activities will be done in partnership with the GOA.
Ms. Crombie added that the UK is in Afghanistan to
support the democratically elected government.


4. (SBU) Concerning development assistance, Mr.
Kay noted that there will be a representative from
the Department for International Development (DFID)
at the PRT. However, most of DFID's assistance will
be channeled through the GOA. The focus of PRT
funding will be in support of, and through sub-
national government structures. The goal of the UK
approach is, to the extent possible, have citizens
see that assistance is coming from their own
government.


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SECURITY IS THE KEY
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5. (SBU) Col. Messenger said that security is the
top UK priority. The UK deployment will include
about 2,000 troops who will be co-located with an
Afghan National Army (ANA) brigade at a new base
being constructed about 40 kilometers west of
Gereshk, the second largest town in Helmand. The UK
and ANA troops will represent a ten-fold increase in
available troops. The UK approach will be to work
closely with the local population. Troops will
patrol in all parts of the province, including the
southern border with Pakistan. All UK activities
will be performed jointly with ANA and Afghan
National Police (ANP) counterparts. Concerning
counternarcotics, Col. Messenger said that no UK
military personnel will be eradicating poppy;
however, part of the UK mission is to support the
government in its counternarcotics efforts. He
noted that, the UK personnel are "guests" in
Afghanistan and will be culturally sensitive during
their deployment. He closed by telling the
audiences that, "as a partnership, we can make life
better for Afghanistan."

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL REACTS
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6. (SBU) Deputy Chairman Urozgani said that from
what he has heard, people are glad that the UK is
paying attention to the security issue. He
emphasized the need to secure Helmand's borders,
since the border issue relates to both security and
narcotics smuggling. He opined that, to a great
extent, divisive elements in Pakistan are trying to
destabilize Afghanistan. PC member Din Mohammed
said that, in addition to security, UK assistance on
the corruption issue will be most welcome. He noted
that morale is low among many citizens due to the
pervasive corruption. He also urged the UK to
pressure Pakistan to cease helping the Taliban. Din
Mohammed also suggested that the UK should help
improve roads and communications; this will have a
positive impact on security.


7. (SBU) Concerning the poppy issue, Mohammed
Hassan said that many of the farmers facing
eradication are "very poor." He urged the UK to
provide direct assistance to those farmers,
especially providing seeds for corn, cotton, and
wheat. He cautioned that if assistance is not
provided directly, those who most need it will not
receive it, due to corruption.


8. (SBU) PC members also discussed the problem of
many schools being closed due to Taliban
intimidation and burnings. Mr. Urozgani noted that
many Afghans are studying in Pakistani religious
institutions that encourage those who return to
Afghanistna to work against the government - this
situation has contributed to the deterioration in
the province's education system.

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WHAT THE MULLAHS ARE THINKING
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9. (SBU) The head of the Mullahs' Council, Mullah
Ahmad, expressed appreciation that the UK officials
brought the two sides together to discuss the
upcoming UK deployment. He noted that importance of
the mullahs as a bridge between the government and
the people. Other mullahs sounded themes similar to
the PC members. One lamented the number of Afghan
students studying in extremist Pakistani religious
institutions, who then bring "bad ideas" back to
Afghanistan. From this statement, he segued to the
need for building more religious schools in Helmand.
Another mullah appealed to the UK officials for
additional support. Mullah Haqani, the head mullah
at the main Lashkar Gah mosque, said that it is
important for the people to support the government
in order to improve security. He said that the
relationship with the U.S. was positive; he expected
that this will also be true with the UK. The
mullahs agreed that they should meet monthly with
the PRT.


10. (SBU) Regarding poppy, Mullah Haqani said that
growing poppy per se is not against the Koran.
However, if it is used for making illegal narcotics,
then it is prohibited. Mullah Haqani also stated
that the use of opium and heroin is increasing among
Helmand citizens, including women and young people.
He noted that, while eradication is important, it
should be followed closely by alternative
livelihoods assistance. Concerning education,
Haqani said that "all children" should be educated.
Despite what some "uneducated" people say, there is
nothing in the Koran that prohibits education.

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COMMENT
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11. (SBU) Beyond the Pakistan bashing, both the PC
and the Mullahs' council appeared pleased that the
UK officials reached out to discuss the transition
and the UK deployment. The more robust security
posture was especially well received. That the UK
officials made clear on how development assistance
will be administered was also important. Whether or
not the audiences fully grasped that the UK PRT
approach to development may be very different to
that of the U.S. PRT is still an open question.

NORLAND