EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Reporting Cable - November

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KABUL 005923 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, JLCOLLINS; CBP/INA FOR CDONOFRIO; DOE/NNSA FOR RSTUBBLEFIELD; DOC FOR ELOCKWOOD-SHABAT; DOT FOR APARAMESWARAN; SECDEF FOR MHOFFMANN, FLIGHT, AND RVIERKANT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AF SUBJECT: EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Reporting Cable - November 2006 KABUL 00005923 001.2 OF 005 ¶I. SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) During this reporting period the EXBS Advisor met with the Afghan Engineering District (AED),Director General of the Afghan Customs Department (ACD),and a USAID Bearing Point contractor to further discuss the relocation of the Spin Boldak Border Crossing Point (BCP) to Weesh, several kilometers from Spin Boldak on the Pakistan border. ¶2. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor attended a design charette at the Afghan Engineering District (AED) with the President of the Kabul International Airport (KIA),a KIA Security Advisor, a USAID Bearing Point contractor, and a representative from International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) contractor, DynCorp. This was the initial phase of proposed design upgrades for KIA's perimeter security being funded by the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation under the direction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative. ¶3. (SBU) During this reporting period the EXBS Advisor organized and participated in a visit with other BMI members to the Towraghundi and Islam Qalah BCP on the Iranian border to meet with AED representatives and their contractor to examine the site for the construction of the new BCP. BMI members also visited the DynCorp Regional Training Center to discuss training issues and the progress of DynCorp's Forward Operating Base (FOB) near the Islam Qalah BCP. These projects were further discussed with the Herat Provincial Governor by BMI members, Herat US Envoy, CFC-A Liaison Officer, and representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Finance, and Commerce. ¶4. (SBU) To further stem the occurrences of diverted cargo shipments while in transit, the ACD has deployed Mobile Verification Teams (MVT). The MVTs have been in operation prior to the introduction of the ASYCUDA transit system for the purpose of intercepting smuggled or diverted goods and to discourage evading the payment of duty and taxes. ¶5. (SBU) The ACD approached the Border Management Initiative (BMI) group to inquire about providing the Iranian customs department with BMI's BCP design being utilized at newly constructed BCP's throughout Afghanistan. The Iranians are proposing the opening of a new BCP located at a location known as Mile Marker 78, approximately midway between the Islam Qalah BCP and the Zaranj BCP. ¶6. (SBU) The ACD's placement of establishing an Afghan Customs Office at the U.S. Bagram Air Force Base is one step closer after five of their officers have been successfully vetted through the Ministry of Intelligence. The officers will conduct customs examinations on non-exempt commercial goods entering Afghanistan via commercial couriers at the Air Base. ¶7. (SBU) The USG Border Management Initiative (BMI) staff is awaiting the arrival of two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection Officers to serve on the newly formed Border Management Task Force (BMTF). These officers are legacy customs inspectors and are due to arrive in Kabul on December 8, 2006, to fulfill the Customs Systems Design Coordinator's position until their departure on March 30, 2007. END SUMMARY II. ITEMS OF BROAD INTEREST. ¶8. (SBU) The USG Border Management Initiative (BMI) is in consultation with ACD and USAID Bearing Point to relocate the Spin Boldak BCP to Weesh, several kilometers from Spin Boldak on the Pakistan border. The reasons surrounding this consideration include the existence of escape routes between the Pakistan border and the KABUL 00005923 002.2 OF 005 Spin Boldak BCP and the threat posed by contraband smuggling activities including conventional weapons and explosives through a large bazaar adjacent to the location where the Weesh BCP would be constructed. Locating a newly constructed BCP at Weesh with built-in security features would help stabilize security in the area and choke off the smuggling route currently used between Spin Boldak and Weesh. DynCorp is building a new FOB in the area to place their police mentors at the Spin Boldak BCP to help restore supervision at the crossing. Placing an Afghan Border Police (ABP) check point at the exit point to the bazaar to preclude contraband from entering Afghanistan from Pakistan through the back door of the bazaar. No donor funding has been identified for the proposed project. ¶9. (SBU) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was approached by the Afghan Ministry of Public Works (MPW) to construct a Quetta-Chaman-Weesh/Spin Boldak-Kandahar railway line. ADB responded that it was not economically feasible given the projected volume of traffic and cargo. Building a railway to establish an inter-modal transport network appears to be a long-term project. ¶10. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor coordinated a security survey at the Kabul International Airport (KIA) by DynCorp, GPPO, and the Afghan Engineering District (AED) in October 2006. During this reporting period AED presented its draft Statement of Work (SOW) and the initial design for perimeter security at KIA to the President of the airport authority. Efforts are continuing to secure $2 million USD from the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation to help fund the project. Another $2.5 million USD may be available from the ministry for infrastructure upgrades to the existing terminal. These projects should improve the efficiency of passenger processing and the effectiveness of airport security during the 3-year, $28 million Japanese-funded construction of a new international terminal. After its completion, the existing terminal will remain in operation for domestic flights only. ¶11. (SBU) Kabul based BMI members, JIACG, AED and their contractors, and Afghan ministerial representatives toured the Towraghundi and Islam Qalah BCPs to conduct on-site design charrettes of the infrastructure projects funded by JIACG. This team also met with the Herat Provincial Governor and DynCorp's Regional Training Center (RTC) Command. The results of this trip follows: a. Partial Notice for the Towraghundi BCP was given to proceed with the power for the BCP (German-funded structures) and drilling the existing well deeper for better water. A review of the rail yard resulted in a re-design of the proposed upgrades because the large amount of rail cargo arriving daily is transferred to trucks for further transportation. b. BMI, AED, and contract representatives toured the Islam Qalah BCP with General Ayoub (ABP),Director General (ACD) and ministry representatives from Finance, Agriculture, Commerce and Interior. During the tour, it was decided to relocate the new BCP to the north of the existing BCP to de-conflict with private property owners and prevent land disputes. c. This group also met with the Governor of Herat to discuss the BCP projects in his Province. The Governor agreed with the importance of the proposed BCP projects and vowed to support them. d. A police training and standardization meeting led by the German Police Project Office (GPPO) and a UNOPS representative from ACD was held at the Herat RTC. Training representatives from Blackwater, DynCorp, Italian Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, and CSTC-A Police Reform Directorate (PRD) were present to discuss the publishing of the Charter of Functions for the ABP and Afghan Customs Police (ACP) and standardization and coordination of training programs for all instructors to follow. KABUL 00005923 003.2 OF 005 ¶12. (SBU) Status of other recent ACD projects are as follows: a. New Customs/Revenue HQ Building, Kabul - the building will house both the headquarters of the customs and revenues services. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2007. b. Jalalabad Customs House - the existing customs house at Jalalabad is being upgraded to improve services for the traders. The upgrades include building new warehouses including cold storage for perishable goods, laboratory space, new parking space and separate oil parking facility. The project is close to completion and the new building is expected to be turned over to the ACD in December 2006. c. Hairatan multi-component ICD - in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, three planned customs satellite offices (in addition to the main customs office) at the Hairatan BCP have been completed. These offices serve the River Port, Oil and Gas Port, and the Railway Port that are owned and operated by the Ministry of Commerce. The buildings were turned over to the ACD in November ¶2006. d. Towraghundi customs office - a small customs office is being funded by the World Bank and constructed by UNOPS at the Towraghundi BCP to facilitate trade and improve revenue collection. The office is expected to be completed by December 2006. The USG upgrade project will augment existing facilities and is expected to be completed in April 2007. e. Torkham customs facility - a newly constructed customs facility to house the ASYCUDA transit module has been built by UNOPS at the Torkham BCP. The building was recently turned over to the ACD. The transit tracing capability of the computerized ASYCUDA system is responsible for the recovery of missing cargo and associated revenue along the Torkham-Jalalabad-Kabul axis and serves as a deterrent for other miscreants. ¶13. (SBU) To further stem the tide of diverted cargo shipments while in transit, the ACD has deployed Mobile Verification Teams (MVT). The MVTs have been in operation since just prior to the introduction of the ASYCUDA system. However, traders have lodged charges of corruption within these teams with the ACD. Subsequently, the ACD improved supervision of these teams. In an effort to curb corruption, two new customs forms were introduced to ensure better control and proper accountability of seized goods held at customs warehouses. These reforms have contributed in the collection of nearly $1 million of additional revenues during the last reporting period. ¶14. (SBU) During a recent visit to Iran, Afghan President Karzai and Iranian officials agreed to open a new BCP at Mile Marker 78 located approximately mid-way between the Islam Qalah and Zaranj BCPs. ACD was unaware that this issue was being discussed during the President's visit. It is believed that the new crossing will increase bilateral trade. Establishing this BCP might curb smuggling suspected of occurring in the vast open spaces between the Islam Qalah and Towraghundi BCPs. A similar approach was used several years ago on the Pakistan border with Afghanistan. ¶15. (SBU) The ACD identified the need to collect additional Customs revenue from commercial couriers housed at the U.S. Bagram Air Force Base (BAF) north of Kabul. Five customs officers were selected to clear goods entering the country through BAF are in the process of security vetting prior to assignment there. The ACD program at BAF is expected to begin within 30 days after obtaining clearance to work at BAF. ACD also drafted new procedures for regulation of import/export cargo by couriers. The companies have been directed to deposit a bank guarantee of $50,000 USD each as security for clearances and to provide exemption certificates for each exempted KABUL 00005923 004.2 OF 005 consignment. ¶16. (SBU) The USG Border Management Initiative (BMI) staff is continuing its efforts to formulate a 12-person Border Management Task Force (BMTF). The Combined Forces Command of Afghanistan (CFC-A) dedicated two military officers to fill the Deputy Director and Planning positions. Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has provided TDY personnel for 2 months to assist in starting up the Finance, Metrics, and Donor Coordination positions. Selections made from the resumes reviewed for the Border Police and Immigration Systems Coordinator and corresponding mentor positions have been forwarded to JIACG for further action. Resumes of capable individuals for the Customs Systems Design Coordinator and corresponding mentor positions have yet to be received. However, with the pending arrival on December 8, 2006, of two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Department of Homeland Security it is expected that experienced candidates for these positions will be identified with their assistance. These TDY officers are expected to assist the BMTF in customs matters until their departure scheduled for March 30, 2007. ¶17. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. Nothing to report. ¶18. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. Under Procurement. ¶19. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. The BMTF 6-person mentoring team consisting of two former Border Patrol agents and four former Customs Inspectors is expected to deploy to the Islam Qalah BCP in 2007. These mentors will be responsible for conducting On-The-Job-Training (OJT) to ABP and Customs Officers. In the interim, USAID Bearing Point has agreed to position two of its Customs Advisors at the Islam Qalah BCP upon completion of DynCorp's Forward Operating Base (FOB),now known as the Border Training Facility (BTF),in January 2007. The EXBS Advisor is coordinating with INL representatives to secure logistical support at the new BTF. ¶20. (SBU) EXBS is awaiting the delivery of x-ray screening machines for baggage and cargo, fiberoptic scopes, density meters, radioisotope identifiers, explosive detectors, handheld metal detectors, cranes, forklifts, vehicle inspection kits, and tool kits destined for the Islam Qalah and Towraghundi BCPs. The Rapidscan x-ray screening machines is scheduled to arrive in Kabul in December ¶2006. No delivery dates are available for the remaining items, but the EXBS Advisor has secured temporary storage for the equipment and will coordinate logistical arrangements as the equipment arrives. ¶21. (U) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. Nothing to report. ¶22. (U) OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES/EVENTS. None to report. ¶23. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES. None to report. ¶24. (U) Please direct any questions or comments to Barry F. Lory, EXBS Advisor to Afghanistan; +93-070-073-652, extension 4836; lorybf@state.gov or to Jimmie L. Collins, South Asia Regional Program Manager, Office of Export Control Cooperation, 202-647-1778, KABUL 00005923 005.2 OF 005 collinsjl2@state.gov. NEUMANN