Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL2387
2006-05-25 07:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

PAKTIKA'S GOVERNOR PUSHES FOR MORE ROADS,

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAID PTER AF 
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FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
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INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
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RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0239
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3//
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
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RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
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

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