Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL4777
2006-10-04 02:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

SENATORS FRIST AND MARTINEZ MEET WITH PRESIDENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER OREP PK IN IR AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHBUL #4777/01 2770250
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 040250Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3213
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4267
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 6951
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 4546
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3251
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3121
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 004777 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, H
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-76 POLAD
REL NATO/ISAF/AS/NA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER OREP PK IN IR AF
SUBJECT: SENATORS FRIST AND MARTINEZ MEET WITH PRESIDENT
KARZAI


KABUL 00004777 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Richard B. Norland for Reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 004777

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, H
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-76 POLAD
REL NATO/ISAF/AS/NA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER OREP PK IN IR AF
SUBJECT: SENATORS FRIST AND MARTINEZ MEET WITH PRESIDENT
KARZAI


KABUL 00004777 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Richard B. Norland for Reasons 1.
4 (B) AND (D)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) President Karzai hosted an Iftar dinner in honor of
Senators Bill Frist and Mel Martinez, at the end of their
October 2 visit to Afghanistan. Karzai used the dinner to
express deep appreciation for U.S. support for Afghanistan,
and particularly for the President's efforts to encourage
President Musharraf to work as a partner with Afghanistan in
combating terrorism. Karzai welcomed COMISAF LTG Richard's
assessment that the security situation in the South is
stabilizing, but reiterated that progress will require
sustained and deepened engagement by the U.S. and NATO. He
characterized Iran's role in Afghanistan as generally good --
but "careful" so as to not make trouble with Washington. In
Karzai's view, Ahmadinejad wants to resume a regular dialogue
with the U.S., but does not know how. Karzai valued Indian
assistance at $700 million, but underlined that Pakistan does
not allow for the transit of Indian goods. The Senators
assured Karzai of the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan. End
Summary.


2. (C) Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senator
Mel Martinez (R-FL) visited Afghanistan on October 2. Their
visit included a trip to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in
Qalat in Zabul province, where the Senators were briefed on
PRT operations and visited with troops from their home
states. It ended with an Iftar dinner with President Karzai.
The dinner was also attended by NATO Sr. Civilian
Representative Daan Everts; COMISAF LTG Richards; DCG CFC-A
MG Wilson; DCG for PolMil Affairs CFC-A BG Chambers; CG
CSTC-A MG Durbin, and Charge Norland. Afghans in attendance

included Defense Minister Wardak, NSA Rassul, Senior Economic
Advisor Naderi, and Deputy ForMin Aziz. Karzai and the
Senators used the dinner to review Karzai's recent visit to
Washington; Afghanistan's security situation; and
Afghanistan's relations with Pakistan, Iran and India.

-------------- --------------
Afghanistan-Pakistan: Making the Most of an Opportunity
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Karzai began the conversation with the Senators by
expressing deep appreciation to President Bush for hosting
the joint meeting with Karzai and President Musharraf in
Washington. It was especially important, Karzai said, that
the President made it clear that both Afghanistan and
Pakistan are important U.S. allies and that it is vital to
U.S. interests that Afghanistan succeed. Karzai said he had
encouraged Musharraf to see Western involvement in the region
as an opportunity to deepen relations with Afghanistan,
warning that if Afghanistan fails, Pakistan will have many
enemies. According to Karzai, Musharraf had apologized for
harsh public rhetoric critical of Karzai and had acknowledged
cross-border activity and support for the insurgency within
Pakistan. When Karzai had challenged Musharraf's claim that
the Taliban represents the local population, the Pakistani
leader had modified his claim to say the Taliban controls (by
means of terror) the population.


4. (C) According to Karzai, after lengthy discussions, the
two leaders had been able to agree on the importance of
initiatives to support civil society in the border regions --
in order to bring a new culture to the tribes and help deal
with tribal problems. The Afghan president was pleased
Musharraf had agreed to participate in jirgas organized on
both sides of the border, as this would allow Musharraf to

KABUL 00004777 002.2 OF 003


hear voices he does not usually hear. Karzai said he
personally regularly receives delegations from both sides of
the border, as the 13 million Pashtu living in the region
consider Kabul as the traditional regional capital. Karzai
said he had stressed to Musharraf that the Afghan people are
growing impatient and the jirgas represented an opportunity
to cool down the anger. That being said, Karzai noted that
when he had reported on the plan to his National Security
Council (on September 30),their response had been cool.
They had said "show us results -- that the bombing and
killings and terrorism will stop."

--------------
The Internal Security Situation
--------------


5. (C) Karzai asked LTG Richards for his assessment of the
security situation in the South. The General reported that
the Taliban had been hit very, very hard in Panjwai and
Zharay, and that, as a result, things are much more stable.
Without going into details, LTG Richards said the situation
is looking better also in Helmand. It should be possible to
bring things together over the next three to six months, but
the next 60 days will be critical. He agreed with Karzai's
assessment that the patience of the Afghan people is wearing
thin, and underlined the importance of the resources needed
to ensure security being made available. Citing U.S.
proposals for Afghan National Security Force modernizations,
Richards said "we must spend it now to save later."


6. (C) Karzai returned to the theme of cross-border
violence. He reported that, while he was in Washington, an
individual in possession of bombs had been arrested in Kabul.
Calls from a Peshawar number came into the detainee's cell
phone after his arrest. According to Karzai, the callers
were asking why the bombs had not gone off yet.

--------------
Iran: Helpful but Careful
--------------


7. (C) Asked about Afghan-Iranian relations, Karzai
described Iran's role as "generally good, but careful." He
said Teheran "has tried to play in a way that does not make
trouble with the U.S." He commented that, while this remains
true, the new Iranian government is different than the
former. It is not as subtle. According to Karzai, this has
both international and domestic implications. Ahmadinejad is
liked for his defense of Iranian interests, but his "harsh
rhetoric" does not go down well with Iran's sophisticated and
cultured population. Karzai highlighted the relative freedom
enjoyed by Iranian women.


8. (C) Karzai reported he meets regularly with Ahmadinejad,
most recently in New York during UNGA. When he had asked
Ahmadinejad why he was not more friendly to the U.S., the
response had been that Iran wanted to work with the U.S.; it
had been the U.S. that had broken things off. Karzai's
assessment was that Teheran wants to resume a regular
dialogue, but it doesn't know how to go about it. Karzai had
advised Ahmadinejad that he should be happy with what the
U.S. has done in Iraq by destroying an enemy. The answer had
been that Iran is happy -- but because it considers itself
the winner in terms of Iraq.

--------------
India: Helpful without Help from Pakistan
--------------


9. (C) Invited to comment on Afghanistan's relations with
India, Karzai said they were good -- adding that this

KABUL 00004777 003.2 OF 003


contributes to problems with Pakistan. He noted that
Pakistan does not allow Indian goods to transit and cross the
border to Afghanistan. India has, however, provided $700
million in assistance which has been used to rebuild the
parliament and for roads, schools and scholarships.

-------------- --------------
Looking ahead: Finding an Alternative to Radicalism
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Looking ahead, Karzai said he will continue to try
to impress on Musharraf that it is in Pakistan's interest to
use Western engagement in the region to deepen relations with
Afghanistan. It is not in Pakistan's interest to have
Afghanistan fail. If Pakistan was understood to contribute
to that outcome, it would have many enemies in the region and
beyond. Karzai observed that, in some cases, radicals have
been used as an instrument of national policy, adding that,
"unless it stops, everyone will suffer."

--------------
Appreciation for U.S. Support
--------------


12. (C) Karzai reiterated his deep appreciation for the
support Afghanistan is receiving from the U.S. While he had
sensed no Afghanistan fatigue during his visit to the U.S.,
he needed to emphasize that success in taking Afghanistan
forward will be possible only with stronger engagement by the
U.S. and NATO/ISAF. He was grateful that the President had
assured him that the U.S. is "here to stay," and had been
receptive to appeals for more support for the police. Karzai
said his vision for Afghanistan is that it be allowed to
become "a peaceful, struggling, poor country -- free of
terrorism -- that is a good member of the international
community." He added that, for the short-run, he would be
very grateful simply for more rain to ease the current
drought the country is suffering.


13. (C) Senator Frist assured President Karzai that all of
America -- not just Congress -- is committed to Afghanistan
and has great respect for Karzai's leadership. Senator
Martinez agreed, adding that Americans hold President Karzai
in high regard. Karzai responded "yes, I think they like me."


14. (U) Senator Frist and Senator Martinez departed
Afghanistan immediately after the dinner and were unable to
clear this cable.
NORLAND