PRT BAMYAN: AMBASSADOR, GOVERNOR DISCUSS BAMYAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001812 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO AND SCA/A DEPARTMENT PASS AID/ANE NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, AND POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017 TAGS: ECON EAID PREL PGOV AF IR SUBJECT: PRT BAMYAN: AMBASSADOR, GOVERNOR DISCUSS BAMYAN DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, POLICE Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During Bamyan Provincial Governor Habiba Sarabi's May 20 introductory meeting with Ambassador at the Embassy, she expressed concerns over levels of U.S. and international funding, commented that connections between Bamyan and the central government were relatively good, and expressed concern over "Iranian villages" being set up in her province. She complained about the poor police leadership in the province but commended the close ties between police and the community. The Ambassador assured the Governor the U.S. wanted to be responsive to the provinces priorities and noted that overall U.S. aid levels would be increasing with the delivery of the supplemental budget. He highlighted U.S. support for the important role Governors played in extending the reach of the central government. The Ambassador told the Governor he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Bamyan. END SUMMARY -------------- More Aid Wanted, Particularly for Roads -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Governor Sarabi requested the May 20 meeting with the Ambassador to welcome him to Afghanistan and to extend an invitation to visit Bamyan. She also wanted to address concerns of the level of U.S. and international funding for development projects in the province. In recent weeks, Governor Sarabi has been critical of what she sees as an inadequate level of U.S. financial commitment to Bamyan's development. In a letter delivered to the Ambassador before the meeting, Governor Sarabi accused USAID of failing to fulfill promises it had made to complete or finance certain projects. The Governor was particularly unhappy with delays in a project paving a one-mile segment of road linking the Bamyan airfield to the provincial government center. She stressed her top priority was road construction. (After reviewing funding priorities we have determined that we can provide the road assistance requested and are informing the Governor.) ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that approximately five percent of U.S. development assistance to Bamyan to date had been for agricultural projects, with 50 percent going to health projects and 10 percent to education. He told her that overall U.S. development assistance for Afghanistan would increase over the next year using supplemental funding. The Ambassador assured the Governor that work on the airfield road would continue and promised to look into paving a second segment of road, a one and one-half mile segment referred to as the bazaar road. He suggested that the merchants and shopkeepers in the bazaar also help with that segment. ¶4. (SBU) In her letter to the Ambassador, Governor Sarabi also expressed her frustration over USAID's decision not to fund construction of a provincial administration complex, a court building, and a police training center. The Ambassador said the U.S. wanted to help and he would study possible funding for these buildings, but he could not make any promises on specific future projects. -------------- -------------- Connection to Central Government: Generally Good -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed that, in addition to development, the U.S. wanted to support Afghanistan's Governors in other ways. He said that they played an important role in forming the communities within their provinces them into a national community. Asked to comment on the connection between local governments and the national government, Governor Sarabi responded that from Bamyan's perspective the connection was generally good, but KABUL 00001812 002 OF 002 acknowledged there were continuing problems with communication and transportation, both within the province and between the province and Kabul. She said that the province had a good connection with some parts of the central government, but with other parts the connection needed improvement. -------------- Some Concern over Iranian Influence, Taliban -------------- ¶6. (C) The Governor noted that the majority of the people in Bamyan province support the central government but got impatient when the GOA failed to keep developmental promises. She was concerned about "Iranian villages" in Bamyan province, communities comprised of Afghans who fled to Iran during the Taliban period and have now returned. She worried about Iran's efforts to increase its influence in Bamyan through these villages. While Bamyan has been free from security threats in recent years, Governor Sarabi cautioned that problems may arise because of Taliban influence in Daikundi, the province south and west of Bamyan. -------------- Police Suffer from Poor Leadership -------------- ¶7. (C) On security, the Ambassador asked the Governor to characterize the capability of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Bamyan. She said she was unhappy with the provincial Chief of Police (sent by the Ministry of Interior) as he is "old and unhealthy." She doubted the current Police Chief would be able to handle a major security problem. The Governor complained that the ANP were not as active as she would like, and often not present at their posts. ¶8. (SBU) Governor Sarabi noted that some police commanders in Bamyan came from outside the province, but the police at lower ranks came from the province. She felt there was some corruption in the upper ranks. Some police assigned to investigate crimes take bribes instead of making arrests. The Ambassador asked if the police cooperated with village elders and shuras in an informal way. The Governor said that they did, elaborating that smaller problems such as disputes over land or irrigation were often resolved through the intervention of elders. The Ambassador commented that it was important that the new and traditional systems be able to "shake hands." Governor Sarabi agreed, saying this happened in Bamyan because most of the police had close ties to the communities where they served. WOOD