Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL3123
2006-07-12 13:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

PRT/KHOWST - TAKING THE ERRATIC POLITICAL PULSE OF

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9809
OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHBUL #3123/01 1931301
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 121301Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1321
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASH DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5/UNMA//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3//
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6143
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
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 03 KABUL 003123 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SA/CT AND SA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN,
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFA-A, CG CJTF-76
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
RELEASABLE ISAF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT/KHOWST - TAKING THE ERRATIC POLITICAL PULSE OF
KHOWST PROVINCE

REF: KABUL 3001

KABUL 00003123 001.4 OF 003


Classified By: ACTING DCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003123

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SA/CT AND SA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN,
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFA-A, CG CJTF-76
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
RELEASABLE ISAF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT/KHOWST - TAKING THE ERRATIC POLITICAL PULSE OF
KHOWST PROVINCE

REF: KABUL 3001

KABUL 00003123 001.4 OF 003


Classified By: ACTING DCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Khowst's July 2, IRI-sponsored town hall
meeting for GOA officials to discuss security, corruption,
and reconstruction issues devolved into a heated series of
speeches denouncing and defending the GOA, local officials,
and the international community. Two MPs made negative
remarks about CF to start the event, one of whom later tried
to explain his remarks to PRT. Speeches from elders
emphasized unity, support for the GOA, and reconciliation.
The well-organized event attracted 700 Khowst citizens to an
open and frank exchange of views, which on balance reflected
majority support for the GOA. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) PRTOff, USAID Rep, and PRT Afghan Cultural
Specialist (ACS) attended a government town hall meeting July
2 sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI),
funded by USAID, and executed by IRI's local subcontractor,
Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan
(WADAN). The meetings were designed to facilitate
communication between government officials and constituents.
(Note: IRI and WADAN have scheduled the meetings for all 34
provinces during the June/July parliamentary recess. End
Note) The Khowst event attracted about 700 people, including
three members of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House),one member
of the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House),and District
Commissioners, all Provincial Council members, members of the
mullah, mujahedin, tribal unity, and women's shuras, and many
influential elders and mullahs.

Off-script MPs: Blame the Outsiders and Ex-Communists
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) A long speech by Deputy Governor Ajab Khan Sangeen
detailing the progress of the government and unique
challenges Khowst faces as a border province should have set
the stage for a discussion on the scheduled topics: security,

corruption, and reconstruction. The two firebrand
Parliamentarians that followed, however, concentrated on
anti-provincial government and, at times, anti-Coalition
Forces (CF) rhetoric. Meer Bath Khan Mangal (Meshrano Jirga)
said if the CF broke international laws or otherwise unjustly
harassed Afghans, the Afghan people would stand against them
in jihad (Note: While incendiary, this is not the same as
advocating the Afghans should be in jihad against the CF, as
some CF in the audience misinterpreted. End Note.)


4. (SBU) Hanif Shah (Wolesi Jirga) began by saying he didn't
want to complain about anyone, but proceeded to do just that.
Shah lamented a perceived over-representation of
ex-communist government officials, and accused NDS (National
Directorate of Security) officials of fingering innocent
ex-mujahedin to the CF, motivated by communist-era vendettas.
(He said much the same to A/DCM June 12 - see reftel.) In
his surprisingly schizophrenic conclusion, Shah told Afghans
not to oppose the GOA because "anyone can peacefully advance
their complaints in this government. There is no need for
more fighting." Both men contended the GOA was ignoring
Khowst, however, and urged audience members to bring their
concerns to them.


5. (SBU) MP Sahira Sharif focused her criticism on inept
NGOs and their local employees and contractors who are
dividing reconstruction funds among themselves in multiple
layers of sub-contracting. She also scolded the Afghan media
for underreporting NGO and GOA corruption; the international
community for rejecting a parliamentary initiative to

KABUL 00003123 002.4 OF 003


increase teachers' pay; and all institutions for ignoring the
promotion of women's rights. "These are your sisters,
daughters, and mothers. Give them rights," she pleaded. She
urged Afghans to forget old jihads and focus instead on a
jihad to re-build the country.

PC Members Exert Their Presence
--------------


6. (SBU) Provincial Council Chairman Doud Khan Shahid Zoi
Zadran was the only GOA official to mention President
Karzai's agreement in principle to upgrade Khowst's security
ranking from level 3 to level 1. Zoi explained that a Khowst
delegation had met with Karzai the last week of June and held
him to an earlier promise to upgrade Khowst's status. He
asserted the change would triple security manpower and
resources for Khowst. Although the change was public
knowledge, it had not been officially announced and still
must be formally signed off by the President and Parliament,
according to Governor Pathan. Pathan told PRTOff July 5 that
Zoi was out of line for announcing an initiative he was
secondary player on and that "he doesn't even understand."
Pathan formally announced the change July 5. Following a
common pattern by speakers, Zoi spoke contradictorily about
supporting the GOA and criticizing it for making promises,
but not delivering.

Elders Air Grievances and Urge Unity
--------------


7. (SBU) Nasrullah Qasimy, head of the mullah shura,
viciously attacked the "corrupt, incompetent" provincial
government. He claimed that Governor Pathan and other
officials were granting permits for refugee camp plots to the
highest bidder, regardless of their refugee status. He also
urged local contractors to do "honest work", like foreign
contractors, and admonished judges for taking bribes. Qasimy
complained the GOA was ignoring mullahs and unfairly
associating madrassa students with Anti-Coalition Militias
(ACM).


8. (SBU) Gahzi Nawaz Tani, head of the tribal unity shura,
presented a scathing reality check, challenging the audience
to stop blaming others for corruption and recognize that
"this is about us." He said that, although he understand the
challenges of poor pay and governing a border province, there
was no excuse for corruption. He asserted God was punishing
Khowst for its corruption with a series of droughts and
earthquakes. Other elders agreed that corruption was rampant
and the public was on the verge of open revolt on this issue.


9. (SBU) Elder speakers were more optimistic and focused on
national unity and reconciliation. Tani Elder Haji Rassoul
Muhammad bluntly refuted the notion that Khowst was dominated
by former communist-era officials. "Who are these
communists? Is Karzai a communist?. Is the Governor a
communist?. Are the District Commissioners communists? You
are the leadership, are you communists?" He urged people to
let go of old prejudices and suspicions, hold individuals
accountable instead of blaming groups, and go about
rebuilding Afghanistan.

Khan Mangal's Quasi-Apology and Tap Dance
--------------


10. (C) On July 7, the Governor brought Meer Bath Khan
Mangal with him to the PRT. The Governor explained Khan's
July 2 comments were not meant to insult the CF, but rather
to warn them not to make the same mistakes as the Soviets.

KABUL 00003123 003.4 OF 003


The Governor explained that Khan was deceived by a
letter-writing campaign organized by some disgruntled
ex-mujahedin, perhaps with ISI backing, to create the
perception that unjust and culturally insensitive CF searches
of homes were prevalent in Khowst. He said many letters were
written by fictitious authors describing events that had not
taken place.


11. (C) When PRTOff talked directly to Khan, however, he
explained he had received 21 letters in the last four or five
months, most of which he believed to be from actual people
describing real events. Khan described the situation of Tere
Zayi resident Kerin Shah as typical. Shah alleged his home
was searched by CF based on faulty intelligence, his door
destroyed, and women in the home treated disrespectfully. He
said most of the incidents took place between four and 12
months ago. Khan meekly asserted the statements were not
meant to be as anti-CF as some CF had interpreted them. He
further explained his comments would help both the CF and GOA
by placating the populace's desire for retribution with
assurances that their concerns are being addressed by the
GOA, eliminating the need to resort to violent opposition.
"This will calm them down." He also hoped his words would
create greater CF awareness of the sensitivity of searches.


12. (C) Khan said he had not shared the letters with other
members of the Meshrano Jirga's Human Rights Committee
because he feared it would hurt the CF reputation. Khan
preferred first to work with the CF to improve search methods
and clear up misunderstandings. The PRTOff explained he
appreciated efforts to support CF, but that if searches were
improperly conducted, the USG wanted to know. PRTOff also
said maintaining professional and respectful searches was a
high priority for the maneuver force commander. (Note: The
standard policy for the maneuver force is not/not to enter
compounds and search homes, but rather to work with Afghan
security forces and let them take the lead. End Note.) At
PRTOff's request, Khan promised to provide a list of the
complaints through local representatives of the National
Democratic Institute, an NGO.


13. (C) Comment: Kudos to IRI for the best-organized and
executed event PRTOff has seen in Khowst. It was
discouraging to hear Khowst politicians blast the CF, NGOs,
and the GOA while minimizing their own responsibilities.
Khan Mangal's assertion that the negative messages were more
show than substance was not particularly reassuring. Still,
we consider the event a success. Even the most negative
speakers made positive remarks about national unity and
moving the country forward. Pessimistic and ignorant
messages were exposed to the light of day and openly refuted,
rather than allowed to fester privately. Although early
expressions of anti-CF sentiments garnered some scattered
applause, positive comments about reconciliation and support
for the GOA received more applause. According to Governor
Pathan, the anti-CF rhetoric was staged by Hanif Shah
supporters in an attempt to hijack the event for his
political advantage. If true, our impression is the
highjacking failed. End Comment.
NORLAND