PAG REPORT:AUGUST 10 MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003610 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC AF SUBJECT: PAG REPORT:AUGUST 10 MEETING Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) The full Policy Action Group (PAG) met for the third time August 10. The development of the organization continues to be an ongoing process. ¶2. (C) Key view points and topics of discussion raised were: -- Minister of Defense Wardak said we need to take initiative on finding ways to measure success other than the lack of enemy actions. -- Wardak also observed that local police are not the answer to local security problems, as they are beholden to local loyalties and interests. He said an auxiliary police concept needed to be created, but that the GOA would not do anything on its own. Any plan must be a formed concept, not ad-hoc, with the approval of the MOI and be acceptable to the international community. -- General Richards confirmed that in whatever Afghan Development Zone (ADZ) concept is developed, the creation of hubs for security and development will not lead to ISAF abandonment of key district centers. -- Wardak and Richards agreed that the ANSF and ISAF would train together and work together both on providing security within the zones and in the maneuver groups providing security outside the zones. -- Minister of Education Atmar, head of the PAG's development sub-group, said the projects that show the most impact on peoples lives are infrastructure, irrigation and education. He also argued that people have to have a hand in the decision making process on development priorities in order to win their support, and that it is imperative to show seriousness. He pointed out that areas in the North are also slowly moving out of the GOA's control. -- All agreed that we needed to quit talking and get moving now. Comment: Getting the assistance pieces, donor community, security, etc. all together with the GOA is ponderous. We are starting separate meetings with ISAF to coordinate assistance strategy to try to move that part faster. End Comment. -- Deputy National Security Advisor Engineer Ibrahim was agreed upon by the PAG as the head of the Implementation and Coordination Team (IACT),which is intended to serve as the deputies-level coordination mechanism that will convey PAG intent to the sub-groups, ensure synchronization of approaches by the sub-groups, and report back to the PAG for approval of policy and actions. (Engineer Ibrahim convened his first IACT meeting on August 13 at the NSC.) NEUMANN