PRT LASHKAR GAH: GOVERNMENT RETURNS TO SANGIN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001572

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT LASHKAR GAH: GOVERNMENT RETURNS TO SANGIN

REF: KABUL 1344

Classified By: POLCOUNS Sara Rosenberry for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. Following the military operation
to clear Sangin district of Taliban, Governor Wafa has
sought to reach out to locals long separated from the
central government, and to extend the reach of the
Afghan Government (GOA) into the district. Wafa
recently appointed an interim District Governor, Haji
Izatullah, and the Provincial Police Chief appointed
an interim district police commander, a close
associate of Izatullah. Both appear to meet with the
approval of the tribes in Sangin. Izatullah prefers
to describe himself as mujahed, rather than a GOA
official. His credentials as a fighter seem to have
played a strong role in Wafa's choice of Izatullah, as
did the simple fact that he was willing to accept such
a difficult job. Wafa is sending Izatullah in with no
budget or salary, apparently preferring Izatullah not
to get too comfortable in the position. Izatullah
says he has asked Wafa to appoint line ministry
directors and send them to Sangin. These interim
appointments reflect an "Afghan solution" rather than
a "GOA solution" to the question of the next
appropriate steps in bringing lasting stability to
Sangin: Izatullah was chosen for his credentials as a
fighter, and will arrive in Sangin with sixty police
from the province. While this may help bring
stability to Sangin, it will not automatically bring
the GOA to the district. Balanced against this
concern is Wafa's apparent appreciation of the
problem, Izatullah's own expressed interest in
bringing in line ministry representatives, and
Izatullah's interest in a consultative approach to
governing, including holding a number of shuras with
locals. The PRT will closely engage Izatullah on the
ground, once he arrives in the next several days, and
will work with Wafa on other means to bring a GOA
presence to Sangin. END SUMMARY.

Following Clearance Ops, Governor Installs Officials
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2. (S/NF) Following the recent military operation to
clear the Taliban from Sangin district, located in
northern Helmand, and following Governor Wafa's jirga
held in Sangin on April 12 (REF),the Government of
Afghanistan (GOA) has worked to re-introduce itself to
the district, particularly through the recent
appointment by Governor Wafa of Haji Izatullah as
interim District Governor. Provincial Police Chief
Nabi Jan Mullahkhel named an interim district police
chief, but withdrew the name when Sangin elders and
Izatullah rejected him. Mullahkhel then appointed
Gulam Wali, Izatullah's choice, as interim police
chief. Wafa expects the two to take up their posts
around the first week of May.

Why Izatullah? He's Crazy Enough to Accept the Job
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3. (S/NF) Asked why he chose Izatullah for the
position, Wafa told PRT representatives that, to
paraphrase, "he's mad enough to go there." Wafa, who
has known Izatullah for years, also placed importance
on Izatullah's status as a "fighter." Izatullah
separately told PRT representatives that he was chosen
because he is mujahed, and because he brought security
to the Mukhtar region of Lashkar Gah. Both Izatullah
and Wafa claim that he has support from all the tribes
in Sangin.


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4. (S/NF) (NOTE: Izatullah is from Mukhtar, an area
located just north of Lashkar Gah. He is from the
Barakzai tribe (one of the tribes in Sangin),and
perhaps a prominent member, as he claims to be able to
call upon 800 fighters from his tribe. END NOTE.)

Wafa Does Not Want Izatullah Too Comfortable
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5. (S/NF) Izatullah is going into Sangin with no
budget. Wafa readily admits that Izatullah will not
receive a salary; if his posting is made permanent,
then he will receive compensation. Asked why, Wafa
replied, "I want him to suffer a little," by which he
may have meant that he does not want Izatullah to feel
too comfortable in the position. Asked why he was
temporary, Izatullah avoided the question, saying that
Wafa believes he can bring security to the district.
Tacitly acknowledging a form of probation, Izatullah
said that if he shows progress he could remain in the
position months, maybe considerably longer.


6. (S/NF) A reason Wafa might not wish Izatullah to
feel overly comfortable in the position might be found
in Izatullah's response to the question of whether he
considers himself an official of the GOA. Izatullah
would not explicitly state that he was a GOA official;
rather, he referred to himself as a mujahed, and
pointed to his successful history as a fighter.

Izatullah's Expectations
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7. (S/NF) Foremost, Izatullah intends to bring
stability. He is not completely devoid of resources,
as he and Wali claim to be bringing sixty Afghan
National Police (ANP) with them to Sangin. It seems
likely that a number of the guards will act as
Izatullah's close protection, while others man
checkpoints. (NOTE: The sixty ANP are all from
Helmand, and are not related to the Afghan Standby
Police deployed to Helmand for possible use in Sangin.
What, if any, direct ties they have to Wali and
Izatullah is not known. The PRT is pursuing the
matter. END NOTE.)


8. (S/NF) Security is not Izatullah's sole interest.
He claims that he has raised with Wafa the need to
appoint directors of the line ministries and send them
to Sangin. He expects ministry representatives to
arrive after the situation becomes more stable.


9. (S/NF) In setting the conditions for an increased
GOA presence, Izatullah did not appear eager to
dictate to the local population, but rather to employ
a consultative approach. He told PRT representatives
that he intends to hold a series of shuras in the
district, and said he wants locals to feel free to
seek him out directly.

Comment
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10. (S/NF) The appointments of Izatullah and Wali
reflect more a traditional "Afghan solution" than a
"GOA solution" to the question of the next steps in
bringing stability to Sangin. The qualifications for
the District Governor's position are in the classic
mold - his anticipated effectiveness flows from a
proven history as a fighter, not an administrator, and
he will arrive with a police force (with as yet
undetermined ties to himself and his loyal, hand-
picked police commander). While this may help bring
stability to the district, it is not automatically
encouraging from the standpoint of bringing the GOA
there. Wafa appears to have some appreciation of this

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concern, given Izatullah's temporary status. Also,
Izatullah's interest in bringing line ministry
representatives into the district is encouraging -
even when keeping in mind his reluctance to be
associated with the GOA - as is his interest in
holding shuras that could include GOA officials. The
PRT will engage Izatullah and Wali closely, including
by having as much a presence on the ground as
possible, e.g., in his outreach shuras, and will work
with Wafa on other ways to bring a GOA presence to
Sangin. END COMMENT.
WOOD