EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Reporting Cable -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 KABUL 004317

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, KCROUCH AND JLCOLLINS;
CBP/INA FOR CDONOFRIO; DOE/NNSA FOR RSTUBBLEFIELD; DOC FOR
ELOCKWOOD-SHABAT; DOT FOR APARAMESWARAN; SECDEF FOR
MHOFFMANN, FLIGHT, AND RVIERKANT
STATE PASS USTR FOR CKLEIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL ETRD KSTC KNNP AF

SUBJECT: EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Reporting Cable -
June 2006

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I. SUMMARY


1. (SBU) UNODC held a workshop with the Ministry of
Interior (MoI) Afghan Border Police (ABP) to discuss ways of
improving cross-border crime detection and interception with
Afghanistan's neighboring countries Iran and Pakistan.


2. (SBU) The Ministry of Finance (MoF) Afghan Customs
Department (ACD) was given permission by the USAF at the
455th AEW in Bagram to provide several ACD inspectors to
assess and collect duties of commercial goods entering
Bagram. Allegedly, commercial carriers are "piggy-backing"
shipments of commercial goods destined for the Afghan open
market onto shipments "exempted" from duties as determined
by the ACD.


3. (SBU) A timeline of infrastructure projects has been
provided by the Afghan Engineering District (AED) for
construction projects at the Islam Qalah and Towraghundi
Border Crossing Points (BCP) to provide better security,
more efficient port operations, and increased revenue
collection. DynCorp also announced their planned
construction of 2 Forward Operating Bases (FOB) at Islam
Qalah in Herat Province and Spin Boldak in Kandahar
Province. These FOBs are needed to house DynCorp Mentors
closer to the BCPs located in these cities.


4. (SBU) The USG Border Management Initiative (BMI) staff
is progressing with the staffing of a 12-person Border
Management Task Force (BMTF) consisting of civilian and
military personnel and securing office space and housing.
The $9.4 million awarded to the BMTF by DOD will also allow
for the hiring of 12 mentors that will be assigned to
selected BCPs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is
assisting in recruiting customs and immigration subject-
matter experts. BMI participants from the international
donor community and international subject-matter experts
will also help make up the task force.


5. (SBU) Meetings were held to discuss the various issues
surrounding the Border Management Initiative including the
Deputy Ministerial level working group meeting and the BMI
Executive Steering Committee. Topics discussed included
training issues; employment of narcotic and explosive canine
units; coordination of equipment purchases; MoI & MoF
cooperation at the BCPs; and identifying illegal border
crossings and possible solutions to control or close these
crossings.

END SUMMARY

II. ITEMS OF BROAD INTEREST.


6. (SBU) On August 1 & 2, 2006 the EXBS Advisor attended
an UNODC workshop with the ABP and GPPO to discuss issues
relating to the Green Border (the zone between border
crossing points). The border observation posts along the
Afghan and Iranian border were considered to be too few with
a limited amount of mobile response teams inhibiting the
Afghans from detecting illegal border crossings by
insurgents and criminal elements. A proposal was made to
supply ABP with high-powered night vision equipment coupled
with a satellite communications system and GPS technology
shared by the ABP and Iranian border guards to effectively
detect illegal crossers by relaying their location to the
Iranians who are in a better position to intercept
insurgents and cross-border criminals.


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7. (SBU) A meeting to establish an intelligence-gathering
network with ABP, Iranian and Turkmenistan border guards is
scheduled for September 2006 in an attempt to better secure
the Western border of Afghanistan and establish compatible
and effective ways of collecting and exchanging
intelligence. Because of an increase of insurgent and
terrorist activities at the border the Pakistanis expressed
concern with the lack of intelligence and the exchange of
information between their country, the Afghans, and the
Iranians. Efforts to fill this gap are being discussed with
the respective parties to establish a more formal exchange
of information.


8. (SBU) On August 5, 2006 the EXBS Advisor accompanied
the Director General of the Afghan Customs Department (ACD),
members from CFC-A and an MPRI planning representative to
the USAF at the 455th AEW in Bagram to finalize steps
required by Commanding Brigadier General Miller allowing 3
Afghan Customs inspectors to work on the base. The
inspectors will assess and collect duties from commercial
carriers bringing in commercial goods destined for the
Afghan open markets. The inspectors are expected to be in
place sometime in September 2006. The ACD is also planning
on duplicating this effort at the Kandahar AIR Field (KAF)
where additional commercial goods enter the open market of
Afghanistan.


9. (SBU) On several occasions during this reporting
period, the EXBS attended meetings with the World Bank,
USAID, the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB),ministries of
Interior, Commerce and Finance, UNOPS and the ACD. Issues
being addressed include a Bonded Carrier System Pilot
Project on the Iranian border at the Islam Qalah Border
Crossing Point (BCP) and the Herat Inland Container Depot
(ICD); bonded warehouse system; additional efforts required
to establish and train public and private Customs Brokers;
purchase of BCP port operations equipment to be leased out
by MoC to private contractors for port operators;
establishment of Border Control Zones, Border Customs
Clearance Zones, Bonded Warehouse Zones, and Commercial Free
Zones as required at the 13 major Afghan BCPs; Customs seal
system; trader bank guarantees; automated bank system for
daily transfer of collected revenue into the GoA's Da Afghan
Band (DAB); establishment of an official Afghan exchange
rate; tariff policy established in the Trade & Investment
Policy; establishment of stricter controls of
imports/exports; stricter laws governing Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) and traders; and training
infrastructure for the 3 major border elements, Afghan
Border Police (ABP),Afghan Customs Police (ACP),and
Customs authorities.



10. (SBU) On August 11, 2006 the EXBS Advisor participated
in the BMI working group met to address the following main
topics of discussion:

a) Advanced and cross training the ACP and Customs
Officials is scheduled to begin in September upon the
completion of the Customs training facility in Kabul. The
Guardia di Finanza will be allowed to teach border elements
in these courses at the DynCorp Regional Training Center
(RTC) in Herat Province. The Iranians have also been
invited by the ACD to provide trainers and have shown an
interest in fulfilling previously agreed upon cross-border
cooperation.

b) The German Police Project Office (GPPO) is constructing

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a facility to house 60 canines scheduled for delivery to
Kabul in December 2006. Subsequently, 15 canines and their
handlers will be trained per class beginning in January

2007. The ABP will be responsible for the program and the
dispatch of the canine units to the 13 major BCPs and the 4
international airports for detection of narcotics and
explosives.

c) The BMI has emphasized the importance of streamlining
donor procurements of equipment to ensure compatibility and
avoid duplication. The EXBS Advisor compiled a list of
equipment for BCPs, ABP, and Customs officials that are
either in place, previously funded to be procured, or
unfunded. EXBS is in the process of procuring $1.3 million
of inspection and detection equipment for Islam Qalah and
the Towraghundi BCPs. Other equipment has been procured or
funded by the EC; UNOPS; UNDP; UNODC; CSTC-A; GPPO; and
JIACG. MoI and MoF are developing an inventory control
system.

d) The EXBS Advisor worked with the ACD to established new
criteria for Customs duty exemption applicants after
learning that many of the applications were found to be
rubber stamped, forged, misrepresented, and containing false
statements. World Bank CURE has assisted the ACD in
establishing new procedures to control the issuance of these
documents including a panel of several reviewers to
establish a better system of checks and balances.


11. (SBU) On August 14, 2006 the EXBS Advisor and the BMI
Director met with a representative from the Japanese Embassy
to discuss their willingness to provide $5 million to fund
the Ai Khanem BCP in Takhar Province on the
Afghan/Tajikistan border. The involved parties are currently
reviewing this proposal. The EC has taken on the
responsibility and cost of constructing BCP infrastructure
for the remaining BCPs in the Takhar Province, namely Nuzay,
Shegnan, Eshkashem. None of these BCPs are part of the 13
major BCPs identified by the GoA but vital for cross-border
travel and for promoting trade.


12. (SBU) Progress has been made by BMI on establishing a
12-man Border Management Task Force (BMTF) comprised of US
civilian and military personnel, international donors, and
12 former DHS and international customs and immigration
subject-matter experts to be employed as mentors at selected
BCPs. The EXBS Advisor will participate on this task force
to ensure EXBS program requirements are incorporated in the
border management initiatives. This task force is expected
to be in place no later than November 2006 for an 18-month
period prior to the transfer of BMI related responsibility
over to the GoA. Efforts are also underway to establish a
Border Management Commission comprised of ministerial
representatives and chaired by an appointed Director. The
BMTF will vett their initiatives through the Commission
rather than working through these issues with each Ministry
separately.


13. (SBU) On August 16, 2006 the EXBS Advisor and the BMI
staff met with representatives from JIACG to discuss the
funding and recruiting requirements of the BMTF. JIACG
stated that they are taking steps to procure several x-ray
and gamma scanners for use at the Islam Qalah, Towraghundi,
and Shir Khan Bandar BCPs.


14. (SBU) On August 24, 2006 the EXBS Advisor and the BMI
Director met with DynCorp mentors at the Kabul International
Airport (KIA) to discuss the lack of perimeter security and

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requested an assessment to identify the requirements needed
to secure the airport grounds. Although passengers are
screened and baggage examined prior to entering the terminal
and the recent installment of GPPO provided security
features in the KIA terminal, there still exists windows of
opportunity for the introduction of contraband and security
threats into the airport environment. The BMI has begun to
explore ways to address these shortfalls and identify
international donors capable of funding major improvements
required for a secure civil aviation environment.


15. (SBU) In September 2006, a delegation from Italy of the
Guardia di Finanza is scheduled to arrive in Herat at the
Italian PRT to meet with Commanding Officer General Errico
to discuss their role in Afghanistan as trainers for Afghan
police and Customs officials. The Italian Deputy Chief of
Mission (DCM) has been adamant that the Guardia di Finanza
trainers totaling as many as 10 will be required to reside
at the Italian PRT in Herat and requested they be allowed to
teach at DynCorp's Regional Training Center (RTC) located
nearby. As a result, the International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement (INL) office has agreed to allow the Guardia di
Finanza to train border elements at their RTC in Herat. The
ACD also agreed to allow the Guardia di Finanza to train
Customs Police and Customs officials at the Herat
Customhouse.



16. (SBU) On August 31, 2006 the BMI Executive Steering
Committee met to discuss and address concerns of the
following topics of discussion:


a) The ACD have had successful talks with the Iranians who
will provide trainers for Customs officials in Kabul and are
reviewing their interest with constructing the
infrastructure at the BCP in Zaranj in the Nimroz Province.

b) Reports of the Governor from Nimroz Province
interfering with proper Customs operations and revenue
collection at the BCP in Zaranj has prompted the MoF and MoI
to address this issue by speaking with the Governor and to
President Karzai to resolve any further inference.

c) The BMI has submitted a draft of a presidential decree
to MoF for the establishment of the Border Management
Commission. Upon review and approval, the decree will be
presented to President Karzai.

d) USAID will be providing a strategic review team from
Washington DC to work with the BMI partners in drafting a
comprehensive border management strategic plan that can be
formally adopted by the GoA.

e) The MoF Deputy Minister expressed concern over
continuing revenue leakage of commercial goods transiting
the BCPs for clearance at the Inland Container Depots
(ICDs). Transition away from this system favoring the
clearance of all goods at the BCPs is underway with the
planned infrastructure, equipment, and training required at
the 13 major BCPs. This transition is expected to be
completed sometime in 2008. In the meantime, the ASYCUDA
transit reporting system will be in place at several BCPs
including the Islam Qalah BCP that is expected to reduce the
number of "no shows" at the ICDs.

f) Illegal border crossings are being identified and a
list of these crossings and recommendations for closure or

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management is expected to be submitted and discussed at the
next BMI working group meeting in September.


17. (SBU) An $800,000 JIACG-funded project is scheduled to
begin in September 2006 by the Afghanistan Engineering
District (AED) to construct temporary infrastructure at the
Islam Qalah BCP. This infrastructure will include grading
of the BCP property, traffic flow barriers, perimeter
security fencing, access gates, guardhouses, and security
lighting. The JIACG is also funding a $15 million new BCP
facility at Islam Qalah scheduled to begin in November.
This facility will include facilities for the ABP and the
Customs officials including a commercial terminal for the
clearance, inspection and storage of commercial goods. This
project is scheduled to be completed in January 2008. AED
has begun construction of a new BCP at the Shir Khan Bandar
BCP in Kunduz Province on the Tajikistan border scheduled
for completion in February 2007. AED is also scheduled to
provide additional infrastructure to enhance ABP and Customs
facilities previously constructed by GPPO and UNOPS at the
Towraghundi BCP.


18. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor is working with the GoA to
identify property where DynCorp can construct a 10,000
square meter FOB at Spin Boldak in the Kandahar Province to
relocate some of their mentors who have been residing in
Kandahar. As part of the Afghan National Police Program, a
project was funded with 2004 Supplemental Funds from the
Counter Narcotics Program to improve the infrastructure at
the Spin Boldak BCP. The facilities constructed included an
immigration processing building, operations building,
barracks and a DFAC. The facilities were completed in
May/June of 2006. This has prompted DynCorp to return
their mentors to the Spin Boldak BCP after departing the FOB
earlier this year to make room for the Canadian forces. The
BMI and ACD are seeking donors that will improve the Customs
facilities as well including similar measures being taken at
the Islam Qalah BCP to better secure that location. The
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also providing funding to
the ACD that will include a gamma-ray scanner, computers
with Internet connection, solar panels, and other office
equipment for use at the Spin Boldak BCP.
ISAF is increasing security measures in this volatile area
and see the security of this BCP essential to assist in
carrying out their mission in the surrounding areas.


19. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD.

Nothing to report.


20. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD.

Nothing to report.


21. (U) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE.

Nothing to report.


22. (U) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS,
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY.

Nothing to report.


23. (U) OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES/EVENTS.

Nothing to report.


24. (U) RED FLAG U ISSUES.

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None to report.


25. (U) Please direct any questions or comments to Barry F.
Lory, EXBS Advisor to Afghanistan; +93-070-073-652,
extension 4836; lorybf@state.gov or to Jimmie L. Collins,
South Asia Regional Program Manager, Office of Export
Control Cooperation, 202-647-1778, collinsjl2@state.gov.

NEUMANN