PRT KANDAHAR: MID-MAY SECURITY ROUNDUP

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 001691

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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 TO AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT KANDAHAR: MID-MAY SECURITY ROUNDUP


Classified By: A/DCM Carol Rodley for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: A dramatic week was launched in Kandahar
on May 12 with the killing of senior Taliban Commander Mullah
Dadullah (in Helmand Province) and of Mullah Manan (in Zharey
District) on May 13. Many Kandaharis were jubilant and
hundreds lined up to see his body on display at Governor
Asadullah Khalid's palace. In what may have been a
calculated Taliban counterstrike, three explosions shook
Kandahar on May 17, including one apparently targetting
Governor Khalid but instead injuring Minister of Culture and
Youth, Abdul Karim Khoram. On May 15, Kandahar Provincial
Reconstruction Team (KPRT) and the Afghan Independent Human
Right Commission (AIHRC) hosted a first -- a meeting on human
rights with Kandahar's Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
and other security sector leadership. One issue that
surfaced in this meeting and in a subsequent security meeting
was growing concern by the provincial leadership over
civilian casualties in ISAF operations. Several recent
examples were cited, including allegations that an ISAF
convoy or convoys on May 15 in two city districts shot at
least seven civilians of whom three died. Governor Khalid
and ANSF leaders also pressed for greater cooperation from
ISAF and coalition forces on compound search techniques.
Lastly, estimates are that up to 200 Taliban are now
operating in Zharey District, including Chechens and Uzbeks.
END SUMMARY.

Trading Blows
--------------


2. (C/NF) Kandaharis were ecstatic over the deaths of Mullah
Dadullah on May 12 and Mullah Manan on May 13. Hundreds of
citizens filed by Dadullah's body on display to see with
their own eyes that Dadullah was really dead. Taliban
command and control will clearly be affected in Kandahar and
throughout the south. However, on May 17 three bombs went
off in the city in what may have been an effort to conduct a
heavy Taliban counterblow. The first explosion, a
Remote-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED),took
place at approximately 09:15 in the exact same spot where a
UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS) vehicle was destroyed
one month earlier. This time a thin-skinned Afghan National
Directorate for Security (NDS) vehicle was targeted and all
five of its passengers were killed. A secondary explosion,
also an RCIED, was triggered 45 minutes later targeting the
response team and media. Two personnel were killed in the
secondary attack and at least two wounded -- including the
Kandahar ANP Chief of Security and a journalist. This attack
appears to have been more professional than most. A third
bomb, a Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
(SVBIED) attack on a convoy of the Governor's armored
vehicles, occurred near his palace at 18:45. The Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs, Abdul Karim Khoram, was in the
convoy but Governor Khalid was not. Three vehicles were
badly damaged and three bystanders and the attacker were all
killed. The Minister suffered light wounds. Another member
of his staff and two bodyguards were also wounded. KPRT was
able to arrange for the Minister and most of his staff to
return to Kabul early on May 18 via milair.


3. (S/NF) On the evening of May 16, Governor Khalid told KPRT
that he was not sure what was going to happen to Dadullah's
body. Mullahs had been brought in and all appropriate muslim
rites had been given. In order to maintain the muslim
tradition for quick burial, the body was secretly interred in
the main graveyard in Kandahar. The Governor explained that
the ICRC was in direct contact with the Taliban and not with
Dadullah's family and that it was certain that the Government
of Afghanistan did not want to release the body to the
Taliban. He said that Dadullah's family had not made contact
to collect the body. He complained that the ultimate
disposition of the body was a decision that had to be taken
by President Karzai but that everyone was looking to him. He

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laughed that he had been forced to turn his phone off to
avoid further press inquiries. (NOTE: Governor Khalid
maintains multiple mobile phones and most are still
operating. END NOTE).

Sharper Focus on Human Rights
--------------


4. (S/NF) On May 15, KPRT and the Afghan Independent Human
Right Commission (AIHRC) hosted a meeting on human rights
with Kandahar's Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and
other security sector leadership. The workshop was a
constructive first step in what appears will be on-going
dialogue among such actors and the AIHRC. At the conclusion
of the meeting, participants signed a short declaration
outlining their commitment to human rights and the rule of
law, with a particular focus on individuals in custody, under
investigation and undergoing trial. The NDS Attorney
General, Deputy Warden of the Sarpoza Prison and AIHRC
representatives raised concerns about the lack of access to
timely trial or criminal proceedings for individual
detainees. Some detainees languish in custody for up to a
year without charges. Concern was expressed about the
absence of sufficient evidence from ISAF forces and why
detainees were captured and subsequently transferred,
resulting in a high rate of release. The Deputy Warden spoke
specifically to the challenges his institution faced in
fulfilling its human rights obligations, including lack of
appropriate infrastructure, ability to provide regular health
services, ensuring appropriate food and paying staff
regularly. (NOTE: This meeting is one of a series of steps
taken or prompted by the Government of Canada to deal with
the domestic political crisis caused by press revelations of
the use of torture against detainees after they were handed
over to the NDS by Canadian Forces. END NOTE).

Deep Concern over Civilian Casualties
--------------


5. (S/NF) The second theme in the May 15 AIHRC-chaired
meeting was the human rights of individuals during combat
operations. The ANA, ANP, AIHRC, and the Attorney General
expressed deep concern over ISAF conduct in relation to the
protection of civilians, the need for ISAF to be more
sensitive to local customs (especially in relation to house
searches),and their desire to see greater cooperation from
ISAF with national security entities when conducting
operations. Participants expressed a desire to have a
separate discussion with ISAF representatives to review
options. Consensus was strong that ISAF incidents involving
civilian casualties risked undermining public support for the
wider mission. The Chief of Police commented that when
international forces violate human rights it undermines the
training they provide to Afghan institutions and public
confidence in the international presence on Afghan soil and
encourages support for insurgents. The ANSF representatives
view ISAF's cooperation with them as insufficient. Specific
areas were cited ) house searches (which are exceptionally
sensitive in the Pashtun culture),the use of explosive
charges to gain entry to houses, lack of evidence provided on
detainees transferred to Afghan authorities, technical
assistance (the need for assistance with surveillance and
finger printing technology),and a desire to see civilians
given more notice to evacuate prior to operations. The ANA
suggested that no operations should proceed without
sufficient intelligence.


6. (S/NF) Both ANSF representatives and Governor Khalid are
reacting to the many recent events involving civilian
casualties in and around the province. The May 2 rules of
engagement escalation in Maruf, which resulted in multiple
civilian casualties, was followed by incidents in Helmand and
additional smaller incidents in Kandahar city. Questions
regarding compensation to the victims in Maruf are beginning

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to emerge within the Kandahar Provincial Council. However,
two episodes on the evening of May 15 have given additional
impetus to these concerns. ANSF officials and Governor
Khalid are very worried about two allegedly military convoys
that engaged civilians. The first was in District 6 of the
city in the early evening in which five local nationals were
wounded and one subsequently died. The second occurred in
District 7 near the Arghandab Bridge in the late evening and
resulted in the deaths of one taxi driver and one
motorcyclist. ISAF Regional Command South (RC(S)) efforts to
identify the convoy or operation had not yielded any success
as of May 18. The AIHRC is conducting an independent
investigation into the events.


7. (S/NF) Canada's Task Force Afghanistan (TFA) Commander
Brigadier General Grant hosted a meeting of top security
officials of Kandahar Province on the morning of May 16.
Governor Khalid steered the agenda immediately to civilian
casualties. Early accounts of the shootings of civilians by
an alleged ISAF convoy had already emerged. BG Grant's staff
noted that no ISAF convoys were reported in the affected
areas. The Governor said we were losing trust among the
people and that he feared the possible reaction to such
events. If a mob were to form in the city, control would
become impossible and damage could be severe. He noted that
Canadian convoys are coordinating their movement through the
Joint Provincial Coordination Center (JPCC) but that
non-Canadian ISAF convoys are not doing so. Kandahar Chief
of Police agreed that we are nearing a crisis and pressed for
a meeting with RC(S). He also offered the option of ANP
escorts. Governor Khalid pressed for rapid decisions
regarding a city bypass road noting that there was already a
plan. BG Grant agreed that it was an important issue and
noted that funding would be required to move forward with a
bypass road. KPRT Commanding Officer (CO) suggested that
USAID had already been consulted. BG Grant said that the
road would be an ideal long-term fix but that interim
arrangements were also needed.


8. (S/NF) At the security meeting, BG Alizai also pressed on
the methods used for searching civilian compounds. He noted
that only prosecutors and the judiciary can authorize
searches under Afghan law. BG Grant said there was
understanding of cultural sensitivities and that ISAF forces
always have at least one NDS official with them prior to
initiating a search. Governor Khalid reinforced BG Alizai's
point but noted with a shrug that sometimes the law is broken
under current circumstances. The real issue, according to
Governor Khalid, is that coalition forces call the NDS or ANP
to request that one man come with them on such operations but
without identifying the reasons. He pressed that the GOA
should be more involved because "we know who is who and which
disputes are tribal in nature. We can bring suspects in for
discussion in some cases without a disruptive compound
search." Coalition forces, he said, go in at night, blow
open doors with explosives, and handcuff people not just in
the compound of the suspect, but in the surrounding
compounds. He continued that this maked people angry and
that most such searches did not generate significant results.
He added that ways could be devised to ensure operational
security. BG Grant stated that the real issue was with
Special Operations Forces (SOF),who have operated under
specific protocols since arriving in theater. He agreed to
work on the issue, beginning in Kandahar and expanding later
to all of RC(S).

Security in Zharey
--------------


9. (S/NF) Based on information presented at the Security
Meeting, security has been slipping in Zharey District (just
west of Kandahar City). The Governor stated that Mullah
Dadullah's death was disruptive to overall command and
control and the subsequent death of Mullah Manan hurt the

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Taliban command structure in Zharey. However, he noted that
more Taliban seem to be in the district than previously.
Canadian Battle Group CO stated that Taliban presence had
increased but noted that morale was low. The Battle Group
planned to commence show-of-force operations soon. The areas
of greatest concern were Nalgham, Sangsar, and Howz-i-Madad.
BG Alizai noted the presence of groups of Taliban throughout
the district (and intended to provide the details to the TFA
intelligence team after the meeting). The largest reported
concentration was a group of 60 fighters -- consisting of
Uzbeks, Chechens, and Afghans -- in the village of Nalgham.
Alizai's numbers totaled over 200 Taliban fighters. Alizai
undertook to coordinate the distribution and command and
control of the 05 Battalion ASP reinforcements in the
district with the Canadian Battle Group through the district
chiefs of police. (NOTE: Alizai does not command the 05 unit
and additional efforts may be required to ensure
coordination. END NOTE).


10. (S/NF) On the evening of May 16, Governor Khalid hosted a
shura with elders from Zharey. While the shura was
predominantly a discussion of USAID's Leahy Program to be
implemented in the district by the International Organization
for Migration (IOM),a smaller group discussed the security
situation after. The elders complained that there were not
enough police/checkpoints in the district and that many of
the checkpoints were not in the right places. The elders
claimed that they try to resist and keep the Taliban away but
that the numbers were getting too large -- their estimates
varied but suggested that between 100-200 Taliban were
present in the district. They also claimed that police had
been sent to Panjwayi but were not present in Zharey. They
asked for at least three new checkpoints to be established.
The elders did not believe that offensive ISAF operations
would be effective because the Taliban could evacuate any
given area before ISAF troops could close with them. One
elder in the village of Niare Kharez said the civilians
patrol the village at night and stripped the motorcycles from
two Taliban but fear larger Taliban forces. The elders did
not show particular enthusiasm towards a plea to send village
sons to attend Afghan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP)
training. A planned meeting between KPRT and the Governor to
discuss the situation in Zharey in greater detail was
postponed because of the May 17 SVBIED attack.

COMMENT
--------------


11. (S/NF) The week-long period begining May 12 was
extraordinarily eventful even by Kandahar's often high
standards. Governor Khalid remains deeply engaged in the
security sector despite KPRT efforts to shift his focus to
governance, reconstruction and development. When asked how
he was on the night of May 17, the Governor, as he often does
these days, responded "I'm still alive." The challenges from
the Taliban remain substantial, although it appears unlikely
that it will attempt to control and defend territory as they
did in the summer of 2006. We anticipate continued
asymmetrical attacks using IEDs and other techniques. Direct
Taliban military strikes will continue to focus heavily
against softer targets such as ANP vehicles and checkpoints.
However, we are also cognizant that corruption and lack of
capacity within the provincial government and police
contributes greatly to dissatisfaction and instability within
the province. Post will continue to support efforts to
improve mechanisms for reducing and dealing with civilian
casualties.
WOOD