TAJIK-AFGHAN BRIDGE OPENING COULD HELP HIGHLIGHT SUCCESS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000256

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/A AND SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/16/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID TI AF
SUBJECT: TAJIK-AFGHAN BRIDGE OPENING COULD HELP HIGHLIGHT SUCCESS IN
AFGHAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

REF: (A) DUSHANBE 34, (B) STATE 19371

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy
Dushanbe, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(d)




1. (C) The U.S.-funded bridge between Tajikistan and
Afghanistan serves as the most visible symbol of our efforts to
link South and Central Asia and establish lasting trade and
transportation ties between the two regions. In Tajikistan,
where the Chinese, Russians and Iranians have all donated
hundreds of millions of dollars to infrastructure projects, the
bridge demonstrates to the Tajik people and government that the
United States is also committed to investing in Tajikistan's
future. The Tajik government fully understands that stability
in Afghanistan is a critical ingredient in bringing security and
prosperity to Tajikistan; and they remain committed to working
with the U.S. Government to bring this about. The bridge's
dedication in August could help highlight successes in the
spring-summer offensive in Afghanistan by demonstrating a
"corridor of stability" from Central Asia to the Indian Ocean.


2. (U) The opening of the bridge across the Tajik-Afghan
border at Nizhniy Pyanj, scheduled for the first part of August,
provides us an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate
transformational diplomacy in action, highlight our policy
vision for the region, and garner renewed commitments from the
Tajiks and Afghans to establish a secure, prosperous and
integrated region. Linking the bridge opening to the launch of
a high-profile cross-border commercial convoy laden with Tajik
and Central Asian export goods bound for the Indian Ocean (ref
A) will extend the public diplomacy value of the bridge opening
and emphasize our shared vision of security and prosperity
throughout the region.


3. (U) In his introductory meeting with the Ambassador January
4, Foreign Minister Zaripov laid out his vision for the bridge
opening (ref A). Zaripov's grand vision for the event included:

-- Attendance by both President Rahmonov and President Karzai.
The twosome had attended the project's dedication ceremony, and
Zaripov noted that Karzai's New Year greeting to Rahmonov
mentioned the bridge opening this summer.

-- Visits of high ranking U.S. officials including members of
Congress.

-- The launch of a convoy of ten or more commercial trucks
loaded with Tajik export goods. The convoy would cross the
bridge to Afghanistan, travel through Kunduz, the Salang Tunnel,
Kabul, and Kandahar and proceed through Baluchistan to either
Karachi or Gwadar on the coast. This trip of 3000 kilometers to
an Indian Ocean port is dramatically shorter than the 7000
kilometers Tajik trade goods now have to travel to the Baltic
Sea.

-- Extensive press coverage of the convoy, including
international media accompanying the convoy along its entire
length and reporting the story of the bridge opening,
Afghanistan's functioning road system, and regional integration
in general.


4. (SBU) Embassy Dushanbe proposes participation by the
following U.S. officials:

--Secretary Rice: The bridge opening will help crystallize a
message built on the theme of regional economic integration
between South and Central Asia. The bridge itself, plus a
commercial convoy traveling form Kazakhstan to Karachi will
provide ample opportunities to assert our vision of a secure and
prosperous region;

-- Secretary Gates: The Army Corps of Engineers has supervised
the project and his presence would reinforce our message on
regional and border security;

-- A congressional delegation made up of committee members for
Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Trade, Commerce, delivering a
message about the United States' democratic traditions and the
importance of free trade;

-- Members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce interested in
investment opportunities in agriculture, telecom, transportation
or energy.


5. (C) Action Request: Post requests the Department determine

DUSHANBE 00000256 002 OF 002


the availability and willingness of the Secretary, Secretary
Gates and members of Congress to travel to Tajikistan in early
August to attend the opening ceremony. When a travel window, or
specific date, has been established, we will begin working with
the Tajik government to ensure top-level participation. Post
will also require assistance in generating interest from
international media organizations not present in Tajikistan, and
devising sufficient security arrangements for the trans-Afghan
commercial convoy.
HUSHEK