RUSSIANS CONVENE G-8 TO DISCUSS TERRORISM; CHARGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001715 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS, SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD TREASURY FOR D/S KIMMITT, APARAMESWARAN, AJEWELL REL NATO/ISAF/AS/NZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV EFIN AF RU SUBJECT: RUSSIANS CONVENE G-8 TO DISCUSS TERRORISM; CHARGE RAISES MONIB CASE Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES RICHARD NORLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Russian Ambassador Kabulov called a meeting of G-8 chiefs of mission and other interested parties on April 11 to discuss the issue of countering terrorism in Afghanistan through ideological means. The meeting followed a February 2006 Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) meeting in Moscow on the same theme, and was called in preparation for the next CTAG meeting, scheduled for April 28. GOA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zalmay Aziz was invited to co-chair the meeting but was unable to attend. ¶2. (C) Kabulov in his invitation letter raised a number of themes for discussion, including implementing UNSC resolution 1624 urging countries to prevent terrorist conduct, compiling Afghan anti- terrorist legislation, creating an atmosphere of intolerance for terrorist actions in public opinion, and galvanizing civil society leaders, including moderate religious ulema, to speak out. In his opening remarks Kabulov cited the alleged growing lack of confidence in the GOA on the part of the Afghan people as an example of an area of concern, saying this perception is being manipulated by Islamic extremists into support for terrorist activity. ¶3. (C) The participants, who included not only the G-8 but also representatives from UNAMA, the European Union, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),turned the discussion from ideological differences to the need for better governance and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The Charge opened the discussion by following up on Kabulov,s own statement, arguing that establishing effective governance by the GOA is crucial; once that is in place people will turn away from the insurgents, who do not have any ideological appeal. Other participants agreed, while bringing up their areas of particular concern - for example, the Italian Ambassador discussed the need for an effective justice system and the Japanese Ambassador stressed the importance of DIAG. Charge pointed out that DOJ 
experts at the U.S. Embassy were working with the GOA on a counter-terrorism law. A number of participants cited the need for an expanded education system, perhaps including the funding of moderate madrassahs to fill the need for religious seminaries not tied to extremist elements. Several participants noted that as the political process has moved forward, the Afghan public,s expectations of the central government,s ability to improve their lives by bringing basic services have been raised to a high level. The Case of Monib -------------- ¶4. (C) Charge also used the opportunity of the meeting to raise the issue of Governor Monib, the former Taliban who is still on the UNSC 1267 Sanctions List despite the request of the GOA to have him removed. He pointed out that Monib is an example of someone who has turned away from terrorism and is working on behalf of the government KABUL 00001715 002 OF 002 and the democratic process. Monib should be supported, he said, for the sake of better governance and also to encourage others to reconcile. Kabulov showed a clear lack of enthusiasm on the topic, asking skeptical questions during the meeting and afterwards telling the Charge, only partly in jest, that he thought Monib "should be hanged." Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) At times during the discussion, Kabulov appeared to resist the shift in emphasis from ideology to governance. He pointed out that since the expectations of the people for better lives cannot be filled in the short run, they remain vulnerable to extremist propaganda that, he said, must be countered. He also emphasized the link between the insurgency and drug trafficking, a claim that was greeted with some skepticism by the UNODC rep who said the lines of influence are not clear. Despite this disconnect between Russian intentions for the meeting and the rest of the international community,s approach, the lively and thoughtful discussion raised a number of important themes. These included the issue of the impact of rapid change on a very conservative Islamic culture in some parts of the country, and the role of Members of Parliament in framing the debate. While it remained unclear how much of the discussion would feed into the preparations for the upcoming CTAG meeting, most participants appeared to have come away from the meeting with a deeper understanding of the issues and problems facing Afghanistan. There was agreement that, at the right time, a conference of Afghan and foreign Islamic scholars could help advance this understanding even further. Norland