TRIP REPORT PDAS SCHWEICH TO AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KABUL 000317 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/FO AND SA/FO AMB QUINN NSC FOR AHARRIMAN/KAMEND E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR KCRM AF SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT PDAS SCHWEICH TO AFGHANISTAN ¶1. Summary: From January 11 to January 13 PDAS Thomas Schweich led a team from INL Washington to review the status of the INL-supported civilian police training, justice reform and counter narcotics programs in Afghanistan. The trip included a trip to the Kandahar air base and regional police training center. Other members included Robert Gifford, Director INL/CIV, Ranjeet Singh, INL/AP Acting Director, and Gary Alexander, INL/AP Senior Advisor. Briefers presented candid discussions of the status of programs making this a valuable and productive first visit for PDAS Schweich. Although the Poppy Elimination Program (PEP) lagged in execution, Embassy Kabul feels that work-arounds are in effect that would convince the key governors to implement a strong eradication effort and provide for necessary verification of eradication claims. The Afghan Eradication Force (AEF) program is in transition -- additional personnel need to be identified and trained but concepts of operations are being developed and the mobility of the new force should produce a more effective eradication effort. Planning for the arrival of INL air assets has been hampered by basing issues (there is no decision yet by the GOA on the permanent site for air assets in Kabul),but temporary infrastructure is being prepared in Kabul and Kandahar. Training continues with the Narcotics Interdiction Unit as DEA awaits better air support from dedicated helicopter capability. The new anti drug law will provide prosecutors with more weapons to use against the narco-traffickers. However, the Vertical Prosecution Task Force requires substantial mentoring and training. The civilian police program has met its initial training requirements and is launching into the mentoring phase. Problems with credentials for trainees and tracking of graduates are significant in some areas but new procedures are being put into place to resolve issues. Meetings with CFC components and our British counterparts tabled various issues that need continued cooperation and coordination. End Summary Counter Narcotics Situation -------------- ¶2. Doug Wankel (Director, Embassy Counter Narcotics Task Force (CNTF)) briefed the INL team followed by a full briefing from the Embassy CNTF pillar heads. Although implementation of the PEP contract has been slow, 75 percent of the Afghan team members are in all seven PEP provinces. Between Embassy Kabul, the UK and DynCorp, workarounds were in place to work with provincial authorities. Good news included information that the new Governor of Kandahar had initiated an early eradication campaign. Kandahars eradication program could be a trend setter inasmuch as neighboring provinces are looking to Kandahar before making their own move. Wankel warned however, that it would not be unreasonable to expect an increase in planting in Nangarhar province given the sharp decrease there last year. Overall, the group was encouraged by the positive actions taken to date by the central government and the participation of the Governors. However, Wankel was also clear that there is a difference between words and actions. The actions of the Governors over the next two months will be an indicator of the effectiveness of Governor Led Eradication (GLE). Following is a summary of briefings the INL team received in each CN pillar as well as briefings on the justice reform and police training programs. Public Information (PI) -------------- ¶3. The counter narcotics PI campaign is using paid media, earned media and local outreach to spread the CN message and is moving into Phase II of the campaign to promote the forced eradication effort. Since August 2005 the program has distributed stickers, matchbooks, posters, banners, SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT PDAS SCHWEICH TO AQHANISTAN billboards and broadcast 19 radio spots over 7000 times. Survey results show that community based events and disQssions have the most impact on the public opinion of Afghans. PDAS Schweich noted that while this information was useful, our surveys should focus on measuring the impact of the PI campaign on Afghans attitudes and on the CN effort as a whole. Alternative Livelihoods (AL) -------------- ¶4. Four of the seven PEP provinces are currently targeted for AL programs. USAID briefed that the program has paid over $14 million in cash-for work strategies, providing over 67,000 farmers with licit wage opportunities. Irrigation has improved to over 67,000 hectares of land, which increases the ability of farmers to invest in high value horticulture. The program has provided credit to nearly 5,500 farmers and USAID is currently working with several investors to open agro-processing facilities to increase farmer incomes and sustainable employment opportunities. Discussion ensued as to whether the AL programs are spread too thinly across the country and if more precise targeting of programs in key areas would be more useful. Poppy Elimination Program (PEP) -------------- ¶5. The PEP, despite a slow start, is gradually gaining ground. There are currently International Advisors (IAs) in three of the PEP provinces, and approximately 75% of all Afghan positions are filled. The contractor, in its proposal and original timing estimates, underestimated the logistical challenges that Afghanistan poses, particularly where it does not have a support base (i.e., the RTCs). In addition, no permanent provincial offices have been established although the contractor is in the process of finalizing plans for such projects. The Afghan team members are currently using borrowed office space, which the contractor is in the process of furnishing. After Afghan PEP officers receive training and logistical support and the IAs come onboard, the PEP teams will be more mobile and capable of accomplishing their mission. ¶6. In subsequent meetings, DynCorp explained that PEP has faced a number of difficulties, including attracting qualified candidates for the International Advisor positions; oversights in the original Technical Proposal may have failed to provide for adequate communications capabilities; and geographical, transportation and weather conditions which restrict or deny movement to the 7 PEP provinces. DynCorp also noted that critical to the success of the PEP, and the safety of the PEP teams, will be the availability of adequate dedicated flight hours on a regional basis to support movement and sustainment operations. PDAS Schweich strongly indicated to DynCorp that PEP team success and eradication/elimination success this year was critical and that rapid recruitment and deployment of the international advisors to facilitate PEP monitoring and verification activities during the eradication season is imperative. Afghan Eradication Force (AEF) -------------- ¶7. There have been a series of meetings with the GOA, UK and U.S. to develop a plan for both Governor Led Eradication and Centrally Directed Eradication. Forced eradication efforts conducted by the AEF will be focused by region as the crop becomes ready for harvest by region (in the south first and in the north later in the season). Targeting is provided by the Ministry of Counter Narcotics, Central Planning Cell which is currently led by UK advisors. Continued cooperation and support of this years effort with various partners in the field, including the UK, UN Office of Drugs and Crime and CFC-A will be critical. (NOTE: In a separate meeting with UK Drugs Team Deputy Graham Zebedee it was clear that there is close coordination and greater agreement on counter narcotics goals between the U.S. and UK on the ground. However, Zebedee expressed the UKs strong opposition to aerial eradication.) Governor Led Eradication will occur throughout the entire eradication season and has already been initiated by the Governor of Kandahar, who has received support from both the U.S. and UK. Stepped up public information efforts featuring the preparations of the AEF for the upcoming eradication season will also be key to supporting the effort. To date 467 AEF personnel have received training in force protection and eradication methods; at full strength, Post envisions a 720-man force. During operations, a 23-man contractor support team will l deploy with a 165 ANP/AEF battalion made up of security and cutting teams to targeted provinces for up to 30 days to conduct forced eradication. Battalions can be deployed to three different provinces at any given time. Air assets in the form of troop/equipment transports, Medevacs, and force protection will be heavily utilized. NAS has developed contingency plans for smaller, more mobile operations once AEF is in the field. PDAS Schweich and his team also visited the AEF Compound and toured the facilities with Afghan AEF Commander General Amiri. Interdiction -------------- ¶8. DEA continues to train and mentor the National Interdiction Unit (NIU),which is part of the Counter Narcotics Police-Afghanistan (CNP-A). DEA is looking to expand the NIU from the present 108 members to 300 members. Additionally, DEA has requested that DOD build several Regional Operating Bases in order to facilitate the NIU operating regionally (Kunduz, Nangarhar, Kandarhar, and nd Herat). DEA is awaiting the arrival of eight MI-17 helicopters (Russian-made) and one AN-12 (Russian C-130) to facilitate investigations. NIU/DEA continue to target Mid- Value and High-Value Targets (MVTs and HVTs),working in conjunction with the Vertical Prosecution Task Force and the Kabul Central Narcotics Tribunal. DEA recently conducted five one-week Basic Narcotic Investigator Seminars to members of the NIU and CNPA to support this effort. CN Justice Reform -------------- ¶9. Department of Justice (DOJ) representatives advised that the new drug law is a critical element in GOA's efforts to build an effective drug enforcement capability. The law provides authority to use more sophisticated investigative techniques and more modern prosecution strategies (such as offering reduced sentences in exchange for cooperation, etc.). It also provides for certain new offenses, to include drug related corruption, money laundering and violent crime cases. DOJ is focusing efforts on mentoring a Vertical Prosecution Task Force (VTF) of prosecutors, investigators and judges that concentrates on mid- to high level drug traffickers. The VTF will be the exclusive source of cases for the Counter naroctics Tribunal (CNT), which has national jurisdiction over major drug cases. DOJ emphasized that the VTF was still not operating as a task force on a western model in which prosecutors and law enforcement work together to build cases. There is critical need for a protective unit and improved drug analysis capability, as well as wire intercept equipment and training, and improved internal administrative practices. DOJ is currently exploring ways to improve the VTF's infrastructure on an interim basis until the Counter Narcotics Justice Center is ready this fall. Justice Sector Programs -------------- ¶10. Representatives of the INL-funded Justice Sector Support Program (JSSP) briefed the team on their program, which is designed to support the development of an institutionalized and legitimate Afghan criminal justice system. The JSSP representatives reported that their team of six legal experts has developed good relations with the GOA and the international community, placing them in position to implement reforms and development in concert with the GOA and with international cooperation. PDAS Schweich requested the JSSP representatives to outline their activities and accomplishments and future plans for programs with a view to the appropriate division of responsibility between various entities providing justice sector support in Afghanistan, including USG support by the Department of Justice, INL and USAID. INL Air Assets Support -------------- ¶11. PDAS Schweich and INL team flew to Kandahar for a tour of the Kandahar airfield (KAF) and toured Kabul International Airport (KIA) area to review basing requirements for INL aircraft. Temporary locations in Kandahar, where the first 6 aircraft will arrive, have been provided by Task Force STORM at KAF pending construction of a permanent facility on the southwest end of the air field. The temporary space is large enough to accommodate all six aircraft and provide for unimpeded movement of any helicopter to a launch position without having to move other aircraft. The notional layout of the permanent site includes the ramp for aircraft, hangar space, and shops for maintenance, life support, SAR/Medics, and living facilities for the entire INL/A contingent. The site will be largely self-contained, including power generation facilities, water well, waste water handling, and ammunition storage. ¶12. The INL team toured the KIA temporary facilities and proposed permanent facilities for basing the INL air assets. Agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the USG to use the 110 Acre parcel on the north side of the airport as a permanent site is still held up with the Ministry of Transportation. Temporary sites for basing of the aircraft are in place and will be utilized but the larger permanent facility will be required to support the arrival of the additional HUEYs in the coming months. ¶13. The Afghanistan Wet Lease Program provides leased medium and heavy lift support to sustain INL CN and police operations. To date INL/DynCorp has deployed two MI-8 helicopters, an AN-32 fixed wing, and soon to provide a MI- 26 heavy lift helicopter to support the 2006 eradication season. Temporary quarters are being constructed at the AEF Base Camp for the Russian aircrews and flight operations support personnel. A permanent base camp for 280 Air Wing and Wet Lease personnel will need to be put in place soon. (SBU)NOTE: The GOA plans to bring down all security checkpoints, barriers and barricades on Kabul streets by this spring. Therefore, DynCorp hopes to bring together separate program offices which are now scattered around Kabul city and develop a base of operation at the Kabul airport that will house over 500 personnel and bed-down the total program in a common operating location. The program will emphasize continued safe operation of the air assets and adequate protection of U.S. contractor personnel who support all of INLs assistance programs. It is not clear whether the GOA will approve such a large contingent of foreign nationals living at the airport so an alternate site adjacent to the AEF base camp is also being considered. END NOTE. Police Training -------------- ¶14. PDAS Schweich received briefings on the INL police training program from civilian police trainers at the police Regional Training Center (RTC) in Kandahar and in Kabul. The program has trained over 62,000 Afghan National Police (ANP),deployed over 100 U.S. police officers working with senior ANP officials across the country, and placed police advisors within the Ministry of Interior (MOI). The RTC training team explained that the recruitment process relies heavily on local governance thereby allowing a large number of trainees with dubious documentation to receive training. The RTC currently lacks the ability to adequately track RTC graduates highlighting the critical need to continue to implement the field training and mentoring program. In an informal feedback session with PDAS Schweich, U.S. police mentors also noted the high rate of attrition once the ANP RTC graduates are in the field, which anecdotal evidence indicated was due to corruption and rampant Taliban intimidation. (The RTC Afghan Commander reported five attempts on his life outside the RTC.) The officers were also concerned that the USG was focused on raw numbers of recruits trained. They stated that more attention should be given to improving and lengthening the curriculum. (Note: With the recent start of the mentoring and field training program, there will be a shift from quantitative to qualitative training now that there is a critical mass.) CFC-A -------------- ¶15. PDAS Schweichs discussion with CFC Deputy Commander Air Vice Marshal Luker focused on CN coordination issues including ensuring communication between the various organizations to ensure de-confliction both at the operational level and the post-operational level. PDAS Schweich also met with OSC-A Major General Durbin, who noted that CFCs view on CN issues had evolved to the point that counter narcotics issues, in terms of priority, are on par with the overall security situation in Afghanistan. PDAS Schweich also met separately with INL police advisor in OSC-A Billy Ray Fitzgerald to discuss contractor implementation and operational issues as well as long-term goals for the police training program. NORLAND D