PRT/LASHKAR GAH - MOUSA QALA DISTRCT CHIEF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001353

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
RELEASABLE TO NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF

STATE FOR SA/FO, SA/A, S/CT, SA/PAB, EUR/RPM, INL
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER EAID PREL ASEC AF
SUBJECT: PRT/LASHKAR GAH - MOUSA QALA DISTRCT CHIEF
AND ELDERS WELCOME UK DEPLOYMENT

REF: KABUL 735

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Mousa Qala district chief
Mohammed Wali and tribal elders told visiting UK PRT
liaison officer, poloff, Poppy Elimination Program
(PEP) officer, and USAID representative on March 23
that they are looking forward to better security
when UK and Afghan National Army troops deploy in
the province. The elders suggested several high
priority projects and expressed disappointment with
the lack of assistance from the government and the
PRT. Poppy fields, some flowering, were visible
within 50 meters of the district compound. Earlier
on March 23, the district police chief was killed by
one of his own policemen in an apparently personal
dispute. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) As part of its outreach effort to Helmand
Province's districts, UK PRT liaison officer Major
Shaun Pendry led a mission to Mousa Qala to meet
with the district chief and the council of tribal
elders. Among the tribal elders was Haji Mohammed
Naeem, a member of the Provincial Council (PC),who
lives in Mousa Qala. PRT poloff and USAID
representatives accompanied the UK mission. The
mission included an approximately 1.5 kilometer foot
patrol from the helicopter landing location to the
district center via the town bazaar. The foot
patrol drew a large crowd standing along the road,
in shops, and on roofs.

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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'LL DO
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3. (SBU) Major Pendry explained that the UK's top
priority is security. He noted that improving
security is a prerequisite for the overall goal of
improving development and governance in Helmand
province. The deployment of over 2,000 UK troops,
co-located with an ANA brigade, will bring better
security to all parts of Helmand, he said.
Typically, a joint UK-ANA mission will involve
spending a week in a specific district, engaging the
local population and officials and conducting joint
patrols. The intent is to prevent Anti-Coalition
Militia (ACM) from moving through Helmand with
impunity.


4. (SBU) With respect to development, the UK
mission will include a representative of the
Department of International Development. However,
the approach will be to channel funds mainly through
national government agencies who will work through
their provincial counterparts. The UK PRT will not
implement a large number of projects directly, which
has been the approach of the U.S. PRT.


5. (SBU) Regarding opium cultivation, Major Pendry
told the attendees that, the UK forces will have
nothing to do with poppy eradication; this is the
purview of the Government of Afghanistan. He urged
the elders to pass this word to their
tribes/villages. PEP officer Steve Romilly added
that, his role is to work with the Afghan members of

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the PEP team and assist the Governor in his opium
control efforts, especially in public information
outreach.

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SECURITY ASSISTANCE WELCOMED
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6. (SBU) District Chief Mohammed Wali said that
the security situation in Mousa Qala had
deteriorated over the past year. Thus, the UK/ANA
deployment is most welcome. Taliban are active in
the area, he added. Sangin, the district
neighboring Mousa Qala, is essentially under Taliban
control, Wali noted, and this impacts Mousa Qala.
Elders echoed the district chief's comments.
Provincial Council member Haji Mohammed Naeem said
that security must be addressed in the district is
to move forward.

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DEVELOPMENT: WE'RE DISAPPOINTED
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7. (SBU) The tribal elders, led by the district
chief, said they were disappointed with development
in the province. PC member Naeem said that the
national and provincial governments have done
nothing for Mousa Qala since the fall of the
Taliban. They noted several priority projects.
(Note: They presented this list to the PRT in
February - see reftel. End Note.) Their priorities
include a dedicated power line to take advantage of
the Kajaki dam as well as road and irrigation
improvements. They also criticized the PRT for not
fulfilling what they termed promises made under the
first PRT commander to undertake some of this work.
Finally, they reiterated their criticism of the
recently completed bazaar road, claiming that the
contractor performed substandard work. (Note:
Despite Major Pendry's request, the district chief
declined to show us the road. End Note.)


8. (SBU) Discussing development, USAID
representative Josh Kefauver informed the district
chief and elders that USAID is working with the
provincial government to start a cash for work
program that will begin within the next two months.
Rehabilitation of the Mousa Qala to Gereshk junction
road and the Naw Zad to Gereshk road have been
approved as cash for work activities. Kefauver
appealed for the district's assistance in providing
security for the planned projects. District chief
Wali said that cash for work projects are very
important; he pledged to provide security for those
activities.

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COMMENT
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9. (SBU) The district chief and tribal elders
appeared to appreciate the UK outreach. As we have
heard in other district visits, security is at the
top of everyone's agenda. Disappointment with
Afghan institutions that have proven generally

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unresponsive for the past 4.5 years is also a
typical complaint. Complaints about PRT activities
are not new, but at the end of the day, the public
sector must demonstrate to its citizens that it can
provide some tangible benefit.

NORLAND