KANDAHAR-HERAT RING ROAD: JAPAN LOOKING FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004508 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE: PLEASE PASS TO AID/ANE DAA MARK WARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2026 TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL AF JA SUBJECT: KANDAHAR-HERAT RING ROAD: JAPAN LOOKING FOR TECHNICAL DETAILS REF: A. STATE 129097 ¶B. STATE 83706 ¶C. TOKYO 2935 ¶D. TOKYO 3141 Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) (C) Acting Political Minister-Counselor on August 9 delivered ref (A) demarche concerning Japan's assistance on the Kandahar-Herat Ring Road to Shinsuke Sugiyama, newly appointed MOFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East and for Economic Cooperation. She noted that General Eikenberry had discussed the issue with Ambassador Tanabe (Special Envoy for Afghanistan Assistance Coordination) and with DDG Hideki Ito in early July. Sugiyama responded that Japan had "carefully heard" the U.S. request and understands the U.S. sense of urgency. Japanese officials, however, do not really understand the exact nature of the "voluntary cooperation" the U.S. is offering. After receiving further details, Japanese authorities will be willing to consider the offer, Sugiyama said. (C) As a first step, Sugiyama continued, MOFA has already instructed Ambassador Okuda in Kabul to contact Ambassador Neumann to request that working-level officers in the U.S. Embassy provide their Japanese counterparts with greater detail on the various options being offered. After Japan has that additional necessary information, it will be in a position to consider the offer. Sugiyama reiterated that Japan fully understands the need to expedite completion of the road and will "do what it can" after hearing the offer more fully. SCHIEFFER