PRT Farah: Iranian Assistance Plans for Farah Province

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 005235

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/FO, SA/A, S/CR,
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
USNATO FOR AMBASSADOR NULAND
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76

REL TO NATO/ISAF/AUS/NZ

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ASEC PREL AF IR
SUBJECT: PRT Farah: Iranian Assistance Plans for Farah Province

REF: Kabul 3090

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1. (SBU) Iran has traditionally taken an interest in western
Afghanistan as an important sphere of influence and, historically,
Iranians have regarded part of western Afghanistan as an extension
of Iranian territory. Recent Iranian negotiations with Farah
provincial government officials show the extent of Iran's continuing
interest across its border and its desire to extend inroads to Farah
Province.


2. (SBU) Former Farah Provincial Governor Isatullah Wasifi traveled
to Iran and, just before his recall to Kabul August 20, welcomed a
delegation from Iran in August to discuss details of previous
meetings and even more comprehensive agreements (see texts below).
The Iranian delegation, which included several engineers, departed
Farah August 12 after promising Wasifi to soon start a new
vocational school (on land near the PRT compound) and repairs on and
supplies for a clinic or construction of a new provincial hospital.
They also endorsed providing Farah Province with an electrical grid
which should, Wasifi said, bring electricity to most districts.
After the visit, Wasifi confirmed Iranian plans to build a new legal
border crossing, probably at Mile 78 (which Wasifi said the Foreign
Ministry had approved) and pave a road from that crossing to Farah
City. A legal border in Farah would shorten the route from
southeastern Iran to the Ring Road and on to Kandahar and Kabul from
the current distance through Herat Province. It would also divert
much revenue now collected by officials in Herat to Farah.


3. (SBU) Background on the Meetings: In July, then-Deputy Governor
Haji Juma Khan Ghamkhor indicated that no practical steps had been
put forward for implementation of the agreements made between the
two governments in January (see below) regarding some rehabilitation
activities in Farah. The agreements are mainly in two phases -- the
first phase was accomplished when then-Governor Wasifi traveled to
Iran and the second phase refers to agreements obtained at a more
senior level during President Karzai's trip to Iran in May. The
Iranian delegation trip to Farah in August seemed to seal the deals.



4. (SBU) Farah Provincial officials received a letter from Iranian
officials inviting them to attend a meeting on August 2 at the
Afghan-Iranian border to discuss implementation of a number of these
agreements. Talks primarily focused on the following: paving the
road from Mile 78 (where there would be a new legal border crossing
established) to Farah City (135 km),providing electrical power
through 132 KW power to Farah, extending a gas pipeline from Iran,
constructing a vocational school at a total cost of one million
dollars, and constructing an equipped health clinic. There is still
no clear date for when these projects and other important projects
agreed upon at the presidential level would be started. Officials
expect an increase in Iranian presence once the projects are
launched.


5. (SBU) Background Documents - January 2006 (obtained by PRT Farah)
(Unofficial Translations)


A. General Protocol:

Signed agreements between (former) Afghan Provincial Governor
Isatullah Wasifi and Governor of Southern Khorasan (Iran) Said Solat
Mortazawai:

The following is a formal protocol between South Khorasan Province
of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Farah Province of Afghanistan.

In accordance with an official invitation issued by Mr. Mortise,
Governor of Southern Khorasan, Mr. Isatullah Wasifi, Governor of
Farah and his delegation of nine people including Heads of the
Departments of Economy, Agriculture and Education spent one week in
the Islamic Republic of Iran. Dated 29-9-1384 (Afghan Calendar)

This trip was divided into two parts. The first portion was an

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unofficial trip by Governor Wasifi to the City of Mashad. The
second portion was official during which Governor Wasifi visited the
city of Birjand, in the center of southern Khorasan Province. The
Farah delegation met with Iranian officials in four official
meetings. They also visited the Departments of Education,
Economics, Agriculture, and Culture in Birjand and the city of
Sarbesha. The delegation toured the international border between
Afghanistan and Iran between Mile 73 and Mile 75 and saw a small
shopping center. During the visit to the border, Governor Wasifi
spoke with Afghans and Iranians.
Due to the large size of the delegation, the principal commission
was broken into two subgroups to discuss 1) Economics and
Agriculture and 2) Culture and Education. Each group met three
times. The results are included in the appendix of this protocol
and it was signed by commission members. The purpose of the trip
was to analyze the potential of each province to work together in
accordance to each government's policies.

General cooperation discussed:
Customs and border security
Roads
Education cooperation including higher education
Economic and mine projects
Agriculture and irrigation projects
Electric power
Medical facilities and treatment
Culture and arts projects

Iran insists on cooperation between border patrols against narcotics
trafficking, smuggling, and security to improve progress between
Farah and Iran.

Both Governors agreed to discuss all issues and supporting material
with their respective central governments to enable them to
cooperate according to legal statutes. Finally, both governors are
ready to implement actions to rebuild Farah as soon as possible.
Signed by:
Governor of South Khorasan Governor of Farah
Said Solat Mortazawai Isatullah Wasifi


B. Economic Commission Protocol:

The following are meeting notes of discussions between South
Khorasan Province of Iran and Farah Province of Afghanistan:

In a meeting on (month) 10 (year) 84 (day) 4 of the Economic
Commission delegates of Farah Province of Afghanistan and Birjand
City South Khorasan of Iran discussed these items with the
anticipation of action after formal agreement between countries is
concluded:

The Farah's governor's request to build a road and open a customs
station on Mile 75 or Dukohana Road will be honored. A border
control point along Mile 73 was nominated in a previous
international agreement and Iranian officials insist the issue be
revisited by Afghanistan's central government for final
adjudication.

Building a 132 kilowatt power plant and transferring the electricity
to Farah
Building four medical clinics in Farah
Digging 100 wells in Farah
Building 100 kilometers of village roads (unspecified name listed:
Shosa)
Building of a fuel and shopping center in Farah
A scholarship program will be created to send 100 Afghan students
(in four groups) to South Khorasan to learn animal husbandry and
agricultural farming in the year 85. Participants will attend the
Jihad Agricultural Research and Education Center in South Khorasan.
The GOA will provide names of those to be trained.

Creation of an Agriculture Research Center on 50 hectares of farm

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land in a suburb of Farah City by Iranians after Afghans send
proposals to them.
Farah will extend an invitation to Iranian professionals from the
Jihad Agriculture and Irrigation Center in South Khorasan to visit
Farah and conduct analysis and research.
Iran will provide water and electricity to a shopping center on the
Afghan side of the border. This will be accomplished after a formal
request for service has been made through the Iranian Ministry of
Power by shopping center authorities.

Creation and rehabilitation of forests in Farah by Iran.
Private Iranian investors will build a cement factory in Farah.
Farah must first request and receive permission to sell the cement
in Farah.

The Department of Economics and Mining of South Khorasan agrees to
research and study mining in Farah if agreed upon by the Afghan
central government.

Birjand municipality agrees to complete a road project of 20 km of
pavement inside the City of Farah. This will be accomplished after
Farah provides an official request.
A formal invitation was extended by the Mayor of Farah to the Mayor
of Birjand to analyze the needs of Farah and provide professional
advice. If accepted they will collaborate on unspecified projects.

An economic and trade exposition will be requested from the Mayor of
Farah and conditions agreed upon.
Farah and Birjand agree to create a combined business committee to
increase cooperation and solve mutual problems. The committee will
include the provincial Economic Department chairmen and will hold a
meeting every six months.

Farah and South Khorasan agree to further discussions regarding
importation taxes from shopping centers along the border.
Farah and Berjand agree to improve communications and conduct
professional analysis of this agreement.

Signed by:
Mohammad Gamphor Base Solaimany
Deputy Governor of Farah Deputy of XXX (unreadable)


C. Culture and Education Protocol

This is a synopsis of the discussions of the Culture and Education
Commission which met from 3-5pm for two days during the Governor of
Farah's trip to Berjand. The group consisted of representatives
from the Province of South Khorasan, Islamic Republic of Iran, and
Farah Province of Afghanistan. Dated 5-10-84.

Commission participants:
From Iran:
Mr. Mohammad Baqer Kamelay (Head of Culture and Head of Education
Departments of South Khorasan,)
Mr. Qasem Qanbarey (Head of TV and Radio Department of South
Khorasan Province)
Hussain Afzaleyan (Head of Culture and Islamic Education, South
Khorasan Province)
Korosh Rosta (Deputy of Free Islamic College in Berjand)

From Afghanistan:

1. Haji Juma Ghamkhor (Deputy Governor of Farah)

2. Mr. Atiqulla (Head of Education Department)

3. Mr. Mokthar Raheb Zakeray (Farah Administrative Officer)

Items of Discussion:
Whatever Afghanistan requests, Iranians are prepared to help.
1) Education materials i.e. computers to create a positive
educational environment
2) Transportation for students
3) Creation of vocational training center
4) Scholarship for Farah high school students to attend South

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Khorasan Provincial College
5) Training programs for school teachers
6) A scholarship program for higher education
7) Radio and television equipment
8) Press equipment
9) (Number skipped)
10) Medicine and medical equipment for clinics and hospitals

The Khorasan delegation accepted Farah's requests and is ready to
offer help in these areas:
Afghan students will be accepted in medicine, religion, teaching,
and art programs
Khorasan will send teachers to Farah
Khorasan will write and print school books for Farah
Create film and TV serials for Farah TV after discussion with radio
and TV of Iran.
They will send scientific papers from South Khorasan to Farah.
Ready to cooperate with news between the two provinces
Ready to show culture and art cooperation between the two provinces.

Also send some reference books for research and cultural center
regarding education and history.
They will create a group of people to learn about Afghanistan from
Berjand College.

Signed by:
Articula Mr. Mohammed Baqer Kamelay
Department of Education, Farah Head of Education and Culture
Department, South Khorasan Province

End text of agreements.


6. (SBU) Comment: With Farah's lack of economic opportunities and
the drought so negatively affecting most farmers in this
agricultural province, more and more men are traveling to Iran for
work and more are taking their families with them to stay there.
There are fewer refugee returns now, as Afghan families remain in
Iran to survive economically. Iranians do not live in Farah's towns
and villages; there is nothing for them here. None of these
projects has been developed beyond the pledge stage. Whether this
lack of visible activity is due to Wasifi's departure from Farah is
unknown. A new governor arrived in Farah on October 8, and it
remains to be seen what actions he will take to follow-up on
Wasifi's agreements with the Iranians.

7. (SBU) Comment continued: Iran's assistance overtures are not
unwelcome here. The agreements highlight Farah Province's
development needs -- Farah Province suffers from a lack of attention
from the GOA and has not been a focus province for foreign donors.
Iranian attention and prospective willingness to spend money for
long-term development projects to improve the quality of life for
Farah residents, even though Iranian influence will increase, are
not to be ignored or dismissed. The dilemma is whether the U.S.
ISAF PRT, seeing the need particularly for more roads and an
electrical grid, should spend time and money on any of these
development requirements. U.S. PRT civil-military affairs (CMOC) in
Herat would like to consider an electric grid (USD 6-8 million) or
possible road work, but due to the Iranian "commitments" have not
put in the time or effort. Such U.S. projects would likely compete
with, rather than complement, what the Iranians intend to do. PRT
CMOC is therefore hesitant to begin such projects. End Comment.

NEUMANN