CODEL DREIER AND PRESIDENT KARZAI ON PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 005644 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR KIMMIT CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-76 POLAD SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF SUBJECT: CODEL DREIER AND PRESIDENT KARZAI ON PAKISTAN, MUSA QALA, CORRUPTION, AND POLITICAL PARTIES -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In their November 26 meeting with President Karzai, Representatives David Dreier (R-CA),David Price (D-NC),Lois Capps (D-CA),and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) reaffirmed the USG's unwavering commitment to providing development assistance and combating terrorism in Afghanistan. The congressional delegation (CODEL) also discussed Afghanistan's engagement with Pakistan, public perceptions of the Musa Qala Agreement, corruption and political parties. The CODEL informed Karzai of its recent contribution to the library of the Afghan Parliament and encouraged the GOA to use prosecutions of high-profile anti-corruption cases to signal that corruption will no longer be tolerated. End summary. -------------- --- CODEL DREIER'S THOUGHTS ON THE AFGHAN PARLIAMENT -------------- --- ¶2. (SBU) Remarking on his visit to the Afghan Parliament, Representative Dreier told Karzai how much he was impressed by the parliamentarians. Dreier explained that during his Parliamentary visit he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Acting Secretary General of the Lower House Ghulam Hassan Gran pledging a donation of a core collection of written materials and technical training for the Parliament,s library staff. He also suggested that the GOA and USG work together to find ways to ensure Afghan MP's have greater opportunities to interact with the PRT's. Karzai agreed, noting that "the more we decentralize, the better we'll be able to govern." -------------- ENGAGEMENT WITH PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Karzai used the meeting as an opportunity to highlight his concerns about Islamic extremism in Pakistan. He noted that he was hearing bad things from Pakistan over the last two days, referring to threats reportedly made against Afghanistan by Lt. Gen. Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai, Governor of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province. When asked what the USG could do to help, Karzai encouraged the USG to have a frank talk with Pakistan emphasizing that they cannot become an Islamic power by relying on extremists. "Tell them you will hang on in Afghanistan until (the USG) is sure the border area is secure," Karzai suggested. -------------- PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF MUSA QALA -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Regarding the Musa Qala Agreement, Karzai noted that he was taking great pains to stress to the Afghan People and international community that the GOA will under no circumstances negotiate with the Taliban. He alleged that Pakistan was, in fact, conducting such negotiations. He acknowledged the Afghan public was particularly suspicious of the Musa Qala Agreement precisely because of how soon it followed Pakistan's North Waziristan Agreement. He said that the timing of the two agreements had given some Afghans the impression that both governments were negotiating with the Taliban and providing them safe havens along the border area. Karzai stressed that this was not the case in Afghanistan and noted that the agreement is one between the British, the governor of Helmand province, and tribal elders living in Musa Qala. He reiterated that if Taliban elements resisted ANP efforts to maintain order in Musa Qala, "We will crush them." -------------- -------------- CORRUPTION AND AFGHANISTAN'S NEW "GUNSLINGER", AG SABIT -------------- -------------- KABUL 00005644 002 OF 002 ¶5. (SBU) When asked about efforts to stem corruption, Karzai noted that previous efforts had been hampered by a weak law enforcement and a weak Attorney General. He highlighted his recent appointment of Attorney General Sabit as a turning point for the campaign against corruption. He likened Sabit to a gunslinger in old Western movies who takes no prisoners and voraciously goes after corrupt officials. He observed that Sabit's public persona helped to create a new environment in Afghanistan that both exposes and rejects corruption. He stressed that the GOA had a measured plan of action which would be very focused on three initiatives: thoroughly prosecuting a small number of high-profile cases against corrupt officials, "right-sizing" GOA ministries that have grown too large, and paying adequate salaries to all civil service employees. -------------- -------------- KARZAI HAS NO INTENTIONS OF CREATING POLITICAL PARTIES -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In response to CODEL,s question about forming his own political party, Karzai reflected on his role as President at this stage of Afghanistan's political development. He stressed that it is essential to project himself as a "President for all Afghans," explaining that this idea lies behind his decision not to support development of political parties in Afghanistan. Given the sour taste that past actions by political parties and military coalitions have left in the mouths of the Afghan public, Karzai noted that any action on his part to create a party system would lead the Afghan people to view him as a President only for the people of the party he sought to create - not as a President for all Afghans. NEUMANN