PAKTIKA'S GOVERNOR PUSHES FOR MORE ROADS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002387 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/FO , S/CT AND SA/A NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFA-A, CG CJTF-76 STATE PASS USAID FOR ANE/ANESA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID PTER AF SUBJECT: PAKTIKA'S GOVERNOR PUSHES FOR MORE ROADS, INCLUSION OF ARBAKAI IN THE ANP KABUL 00002387 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) Summary ¶1. (SBU) In a May 1 visit to the PRT in Sharana, the capital of Paktika, Ambassador met with Governor Khpulwak and local government officials, where he was repeatedly asked for assistance in constructing local roads to complete the provincial network, as well as help in linking the province to Pakistan by road to enable it to profit from cross border trade. The Governor and Ambassador also spoke at length about augmenting local security through the use of arbakai (tribal police),whom Khpulwak suggested could eventually be integrated into the Afghan National Police (ANP). In a meeting with provincial elders and community leaders, while the Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. will stay the course in Afghanistan, he also stressed that he did not want to make development promises that might not materialize. He also encouraged Afghans to stop fighting among themselves and stressed the need for honest government officials. End Summary ¶2. (C) PRT officials described the security threat in the province, with a 250-kilometer border with Pakistan, the longest in RC-East, as primarily focused on Taliban and Haqqani, with no evidence of Al Qaeda activity. One problem facing the provincial government is that, of the 23 districts in Paktika, four are not recognized by the central government, and thus receive no funding for police or other services. There are no improved (i.e., asphalt surfaced) roads in the entire province, and the Infantry BN commander noted that "projects are my best weapon". The central area of the province is much more peaceful than it was two years ago, according to the commander, since the population values the projects the PRT is building and won't let them be disrupted. A Swedish NGO is working in Zagra district, and, although UNAMA does not have a permanent presence in Paktika, they have been "much more energized" since the January Loya Paktika conference Another issue raised was the ultimate disposition of the Afghan Security Forces (ASF),who have worked with U.S. special forces in the area. They are relatively well paid and equipped, and it is unlikely that they would consent to reintegrate into the ANA, where they would have much lower salaries and poor equipment. A suggestion was made that former ASF be used either as a special border security force, or as an elite "Ranger" type of force which could either patrol the interior of the province or be used as a rapid reaction force. ¶3. (SBU) In a town hall type meeting with local notables, Governor Khpulwak made a plea for more resources. As a border province, Paktika has been involved in fighting the insurgency and the people "will always defend against the enemy"; however, they are "poor and needy" with few political rights and have received little central government attention. There are no hospitals, clinics, or schools, and women are dying in childbirth, he continued. The most important need, however, is for road construction to link up the province internally, as well as with Pakistan, to jump start the economy and create jobs, as well as to attract outside investment. He particularly stressed the importance of the road from Sharana to Gardez, the capital of Paktia, the province to the north - which is also significant from the point of view of security, as the Afghan National Army has a corps headquarters in Gardez. Finally, Khpulwak requested that the U.S. build administrative offices for the provincial officials. The head of the provincial council thanked the coalition forces for several new buildings, but expressed the KABUL 00002387 002.2 OF 002 view that, since Paktika was not an opium cultivating province, the government was neglecting its development. He referred to promises that the former U.S. ambassador had made. A local engineer then took the floor and enumerated the projects - such as housing for 8,000 refugees - that had been promised on behalf of the U.S. but never delivered. He asked that assistance be given to complete the Parakh dam and the Zami dam. A tribal leader complained that some coalition forces disrespect the mosques and the code of Pashtunwali, and search compounds without proper notice. "Remember you are our guests," he admonished. He said that some people used the presence of coalition forces to settle personal scores by filing false reports against their enemies; he gave the Ambassador a list of men whom he claimed had been falsely apprehended, and asked for their release. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador responded by reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan. He noted, however, that Afghanistan had been poor thirty years ago, and that the list of things that needed to be done throughout the country was very long. The U.S. will try to help, he said, but he doesn't intend to make promises that can't be kept. He stressed the importance of having honest officials in place and of making and keeping the peace, in order for the economy to develop and flourish. He said that he and LTG Eikenberry were concerned with reports of breaking into compounds without proper notice, and they would work with the ANA to reduce the number of incidents. Comment: These complaints appear to be a rehashing of old issues, without any new foundation. End Comment ¶5. (SBU) In a smaller meeting with the Governor and provincial representatives of the ministries, the discussion focused on the use of tribal police, or arbakai, to keep the peace. Khpulwak explained that the arbakai would be selected by the district's "elder shura," which would take responsibility for them. They would work under the established security forces - the Afghan Border Police, ANA or ANP - rather than for an individual commander, and would patrol villages beyond the normal reach of the ANA or ANP. "The enemy won't spend the night in the villages where the arbakai are," the governor asserted, noting that there are many remote villages "where we can't force the ANP to go. If even five arbakai are there, they will have the support of the people." Khpulwak explained that there were 2,500 arbakai in the area; they didn't need weapons or uniforms, merely money for salaries. They would receive training from the ANP and register their weapons, which would be a step toward future disarmament; 150 of them, who would be selected by the elder shura, would then go on to join the ANP within 6 months to one year. The Ambassador said he had discussed this issue with President Karzai, but there were concerns that it would slow down current programs for ANP training, and not be linked adequately to the construction of national authority. While the current rebalancing program will bring more police to Paktika, however, he wasn't sure that there would be enough to assure adequate security. This issue would require more discussion, but the Ambassador said he was interested in the Governor's idea of having the arbakai switch over to the ANP. NEUMANN