LEAHY VETTING REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION: ABDUL GHAFAR

UNCLAS KABUL 000118 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/RA (JBRENNIG),SCA/A, DRL, INL/CNPR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SNAR PINR PTER AF SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION: ABDUL GHAFAR REF: a) KABUL 4474 b) SECSTATE 201184 ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see para 7. ¶2. (U) In reftel b, Department instructed that ANP Brigadier General Abdul Ghafar was not cleared for U.S. funded assistance due to ref a's reference to the likelihood of Ghafar a violator of human rights as well as ref' b's reference to his "connections to the Taliban while under the command of General Dostum." ¶3. (U) Post has no record of any connection of Abdul Ghafar to the Taliban or General Dostum. According to our records, during the jihad and civil war period, Abdul Ghafar was affiliated with the Mahaz-e Milli Party, a politically moderate group headed by Pir Syed Ahmad Gailani. ¶4. (SBU) At Post's request, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has conducted a supplementary investigation into the background and performance of Abdul Ghafar, who is currently Chief of Police of Ghazni province. UNAMA reports that the allegations referred to in ref a, when Ghafar was Chief of Police in Kunar province, have not been verified. UNAMA has assessed that these allegations may have originated with his political enemies. UNAMA had originally reported "recent (unverified) reports of beating subordinates." On further investigation, these reports have not/not been substantiated. ¶5. (U) UNAMA further reports that Abdul Ghafar has performed very well in Ghazni. U.S. police mentors in Ghazni have assessed Ghafar positively in the areas of loyalty to the GOA, leadership, integrity, ethics, and professionalism. Ghafar has the full confidence of the Minister of Interior, who has selected him to be transferred to Zabul province as chief of police there. ¶6. (SBU) The governor of Zabul province has reported to the Ministry of Interior that the incumbent chief of police is not sufficiently strong or active enough in Zabul, a southern province of key strategic importance. The governor has requested that the new chief of police be moved into place as soon as possible in order to counter the active insurgency. ¶7. (U) In light of this new information, Post requests Department to review its previous decision and clear Abdul Ghafar for U.S. funded assistance. NEWELL