Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL5923
2006-12-21 10:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

EXBS Afghanistan Advisor Monthly Reporting Cable - November

Tags:  ETTC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AF 
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #5923/01 3551025
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211025Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5016
INFO RUCNEXC/ECRBS COLLECTIVE
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3445
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6662
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 2004
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0264
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0265
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

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