AFGHAN-PAK JIRGA PREPARATIONS BUILDING UP: NEED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001684 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC PASS FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID AF SUBJECT: AFGHAN-PAK JIRGA PREPARATIONS BUILDING UP: NEED FUNDS REF: KABUL 1556 ¶1. This cable contains an action request. See para 9. ¶2. On May 16, Afghan Regional Peace Jirga Preparation Commission Director of Secretariat Farooq Wardak briefed the international community on latest plans for the cross-border jirga with Pakistan, now scheduled for the first week of August in Kabul. The exact dates will be decided when the two sides meet again at the end of May in Islamabad. ¶3. Wardak indicated that both sides have agreed their delegations would be made up of a "national composition" (versus just Pashtuns as the GOP had wanted earlier) with 350 delegates from each side. Total participation is expected to be 1,050, including international observers and support staff. A joint committee of five to six members from each side will decide at the end of May the final agenda and rules of procedure (who will chair, secretariat, who will speak). The actual jirga will last between two to six days with two preparatory days for the Afghan delegates only. ¶4. (SBU) Wardak stressed the main agenda item would be how to deal with terrorism emanating from both sides of the border. He assured the Ambassador in a separate meeting on May 15 that the GOA was determined the issue of the Durand Line would not be raised. If it were raised, the GOA would be ready to close down the discussion by saying the issue could only be discussed in a Loya Jirga. Role of the International Community -------------- ¶5. Afghanistan hopes to reach agreement with Pakistan on a mechanism for implementing any agreements reached and wants the international community to play a key role in monitoring both the jirga and implementation process. Wardak told the Ambassador the GOA was counting on the U.S. to serve as "coach," providing moral, political, diplomatic, and financial support. The GOA still needs to obtain agreement from Islamabad on this point. Budget -------------- ¶6. Wardak presented the donors at the May 16 meeting a new budget request in the amount of USD 2.6 million. He explained that the jirga was not foreseen in the Afghan budget process, which meant that funding would have to come from external sources. President Karzai would be looking for some internal funds, but the GOA is hoping the international community will fund the jirga. ¶7. Wardak had told the Ambassador on May 15 that the budget would be roughly USD 2 million. The Ambassador said the U.S. would be providing support, but it likely would not cover the entire budget. ¶8. On the margins of the May 16 meeting, the Saudi and Japanese Ambassadors told Deputy PolCouns that their governments would likely be providing funding (amount unspecified). UK Embassy POLOFF confided that said his Embassy would be requesting 100-200,000 pounds (USD 200-400,000) from London. Comment and Action Request KABUL 00001684 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶9. The cross-border jirga initiative has traveled a long road since its inception at the White House in September 2006. With the jirga looking more and more likely to take place in early August, the GOA is in need of serious financial assistance. Post believes that early U.S. financial support at this critical juncture in preparations will get others to step up to the plate. Therefore, if Washington concurs, Post would like to use ESF funds available at Post in the amount of USD 500,000, assuming the requested FY2007 supplemental funds are appropriated in the coming month or so. If these funds are not available soon, Post requests Washington consider financial support from another funding source. The GOA would need access to the funds by July 1, earlier if possible. The Commission's detailed budget proposal is being e-mailed to the Department (SCA/A). WOOD