HELMAND: UK REPORT ON WAFA'S JIRGA IN GERESHK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001678

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SUBJECT: HELMAND: UK REPORT ON WAFA'S JIRGA IN GERESHK


1. This report was drafted by the British POLOFF at PRT
Lashkah Gar. It is noteworthy in reporting that no Helmand
Governor has visited the town of Gereshk in almost 30 years,
highlighting the scale of the challenge in securing local
support in Helmand. Begin text:


2. SUMMARY: Governor Wafa held a Jirga May 10 with local
leaders in Gereshk, the first visit there by a Helmand
Governor for 28 years. Elders were receptive to the GOA
message but skeptical about a new wave of promises. PRT will
have to deliver high and early to win them over.


3. DETAIL: On 10 May, Wafa held a Jirga in Gereshk,
Helmand's commercial centre and second largest town. The
event was attended by Commander TFH and Head of the PRT, who
led a civilian team comprising the Deputy Head PRT,
Stabilisation Adviser, Governance Adviser, and Berger LNO.


4. The Jirga took place in a shaded mulberry orchard on the
eastern side of the town. The turn out of local leaders was
not far short of the 500 invited, although no local religious
leaders attended for fear of Taliban retribution. Speeches
were given by Wafa, provincial religious leader Mullawi
Ahmed, the Mayor, tribal adviser to PTS Ali Shah, chief
tribal leader Haji Abdul Qadir, and Commander TFH Brigadier
Lorimer, all interspersed with prayers, poetry readings and
singing by children. The occasion concluded with lunch and
the handing out of turbans. No comments from the floor were
invited -- this was disappointing, but probably unsurprising
given the circumstances of the last 48 hours in Sarwan Qala.


5. Wafa's purpose, as in Sangin on 12 April, was to
capitalise on the success of a military operation to project
the GOA's authority in an area where central control has been
weak for many years. In his speech, Wafa stressed that
security would be maintained and would lead to reconstruction
and development. He invited Taliban to join the GOA's side,
but promised tough action against those who did not. Tribal
elders should tell the Taliban to leave their areas and
should work with Afghan and international security forces.
Development would happen, specifically new schools,
electricity through the Kajaki Dam, and 92 km of roads. On
the civilian deaths in Sarwan Qala, Wafa briefly expressed
regret and hoped such incidents would not happen again.


6. Mullawi Ahmed spoke at length and with passion to
disassociate Islam from Taliban jihad. The Mayor welcomed
the first Governor's visit for 28 years. Development would
create a sense of civic responsibility among local people.
Haji Qadir expressed scepticism about GOA's ability to
deliver and urged the construction of a new road along the
river to Lashkar Gah. Ali Shah was careful not to criticise
the Taliban, saying that the issues that made people support
the Taliban must be addressed so that people would side with
the GOA instead.


7. Commander TFH expressed regret about Sarwan Qala, while
emphasising the Taliban's disregard for the well-being of
civilians. Development was already underway in Gereshk. The
Kajaki Dam project would provide huge opportunities; ISAF
would only stay in Helmand for as long as was necessary.

PRT COMMENT


8. Fears that the event would be completely overshadowed by
Sarwan Qala proved unfounded. Our discussions in the
margins indicated an understanding among local leaders that
it is impossible to avoid civilian casualties entirely when
the Taliban fight from amongst the people. Several
interlocutors did not even raise the subject with us.


9. The fact that the last visit by a Governor to Gereshk
apparently happened nearly three decades ago underlines the
scale of Wafa's task in securing local support for the GOA.

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We would not disagree with local journalists' estimates that
20 percent of those present were for the GOA, 60 percent were
sitting on the fence, and 20 percent were against, with many
skeptical about the GOA's ability to deliver. Since even
young, well-educated participants were unsure about
GoA/international community objectives in Afghanistan, the
understanding of the uneducated majority must be lower still.


10. This was a fairly festive and colourful event, reflected
by the Koran reading chosen deliberately to set the context
of a victory celebration. But even so, security (provided by
Afghan and ISAF troops) had to be exceptionally tight and
many of the participants were nervous. The sound of a couple
of Taliban mortar rounds 5-6 miles distant, as if just to
remind the Jirga that they are not far away, further
underlined the scale of Wafa's challenge. It also
underlined the scale, and importance, of our challenge to
push GOA (and ourselves) to deliver on the promises made.
The HEG/PRT is planning a visit to Gereshk 17th, for a more
in depth engagement with local leaders to mobilise effort on
reconstruction and development. Same civilian participants
from the PRT. End text.


WOOD