PRESIDENTIAL MEETING ON DIAG CONFIRMS GOA SUPPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 005671 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR KIMMITT CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR AF 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 KABUL 00005671 002 OF 003 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 KABUL 00005671 003 OF 003 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