PRESIDENTIAL MEETING ON DIAG CONFIRMS GOA SUPPORT

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SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL MEETING ON DIAG CONFIRMS GOA SUPPORT


1. (SBU) Summary: GOA Ministers and international
representatives, in a meeting on the Disbandment of
Illegally Armed Groups (DIAG) process chaired by
President Karzai, called on the Afghan leadership to
recommit to the program, stating that it is in the
interest of the Afghan people and essential to
establishing a government monopoly on power and
removing alternative power centers that challenge
the government. Parliamentary leaders Abdul Rasul
Sayyaf, Burhanuddin Rabbani, and Pir Gailani all
said they supported the program but noted its human
cost if former fighters are not reintegrated into
society and helped financially. Sayyaf also warned
that many former fighters are recruited by Taliban
and Al Qaeda because of weaknesses in the
Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation (DDR)
and DIAG programs. At the end of the meeting,
President Karzai confirmed GOA support for the
program and stated the need for funding social
programs to help former fighters, developing a
united front with the Parliament, and closing off
the flow of weapons coming from outside the country.
End summary.


2. (SBU) President Karzai called a meeting on Nov 22
with Ministers, international community members, and
major Parliamentarian/jihadi leaders - Abdul Rasul
Sayyaf, Burhanuddin Rabbani, and Pir Gailani - to
discuss how best to get the DIAG program back on
track. Deputy Minister of Defense Nuristani briefed
that while there has been some limited success and
the people of Afghanistan strongly support the
program, the political commitment of the Afghan
leadership has been lukewarm. Governors in most
provinces are not doing their job in implementing
compliance mechanisms. Many leaders of illegally
armed groups have powerful sponsors within the GOA.
In addition, the program managers have not been able
to develop good information about weapons caches due
to lack of cooperation from GOA authorities.
Nuristani said that the program managers have
sufficient expertise and budget, but need the GOA to
recommit to the goal.


3. (SBU) Japanese Ambassador Kosuge stated that DIAG
is not just about weapons collection. It sets the
conditions for good governance and development.
Kosuge called on the Parliamentary leaders to play a
positive role. UN Deputy Special Representative
Alexander said that we need to remind ourselves that
the disarmament process has moved the country from
disorder to strengthening state institutions as the
guarantors of order. He reiterated that DIAG is not
about collecting weapons from all citizens, rather
it is intended to remove alternative power centers
that challenge the government. He emphasized that
there is no contradiction between supporting
counterinsurgency and DIAG. Indeed, he said, we
succeed against the Taliban when 1) we have credible
institutions, and 2) we deny foreign sanctuary to
the enemy. DIAG contributes to this objective by
making institutions stronger. There must be a state
monopoly of power.


4. (SBU) EU Ambassador Vendrell pointed out that the
DIAG program is not an imposition from the
international community - it is something the Afghan
people want. Nor is it aimed at any particular
ethnic group.


5. (SBU) Ustad Sayyaf said that he and his

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colleagues have supported DDR and DIAG from the
beginning and still do. They believe that
Afghanistan will not be secure and stable until all
weapons have been collected. This is the
requirement of our nation, he added, not imposed
from outside. However, he added, it must be
remembered that most of those who disarmed
voluntarily are now without jobs. No more than five
percent have sources of income. The rest have four
choices:

- They can go to Iran or Pakistan for work.
- They can beg on the streets.
- Most will be contacted by Al Qaeda or the Taliban,
who will rearm them. "I know many who have," he
added.
- If they do not have a way of joining the Taliban,
they will establish their own criminal groups.


6. (SBU) Sayyaf said that these last two categories
of former fighters, who are the most numerous, are
extremely dangerous. He added that if we do not pay
attention to these people, they will become angry
and take their revenge against the government and
the foreigners.


7. (SBU) Ustad Rabbani supported Sayyaf,s point by
saying that we cannot ignore the social side of
disarmament and disbandment. He said people need to
be convinced that it is in their interest to
participate and that their financial needs will be
looked after. People should not be made to feel
they are criminals, or they will become criminals.
He argued that there should be a specific budget
allotment to support those who have been disarmed.


8. (SBU) Pir Gailani added that in some areas where
weapons have been collected, people have been become
vulnerable due to Taliban presence in their home
areas. Without weapons, they have no way to resist.


9. (SBU) Former DDR Commission Chairman Stanakzai
said that several things needed to be done. The GOA
and international community must develop a unified,
clear message to explain to people what is being
done and why it is in their interest. Secondly, The
GOA should establish a joint committee, to include
Parliamentarians, to get the message out. In
Kapisa, for example, Members of Parliament have made
unhelpful statements. There should also be more
political pressure on interdicting arms coming in
from outside Afghanistan, and the effort to build
security institutions should be accelerated, with
help from the international community.


10. (SBU) Senior Advisor Arsala pointed out that
within the GOA budget there are no resources for
social programs to support DIAG. He said that
billions of dollars are being spent, but not on
programs with direct positive impact.


11. (SBU) President Karzai summarized the meeting as
follows:

- Afghanistan fully supports this program.

- For successful implementation, we need to look at
the social costs. There has been loss of employment
and of income. We need to make sure that former
fighters are not excluded from society. This is
extremely important for the war against terror and

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national security. He backed the call to set aside
some budget to support these people.

- Former Minister Stanakzai,s remarks on the
creation of a united front in Parliament were also
extremely important.

- Arms coming from outside are a primary security
challenge that we are working on.
NEUMANN