PRT GARDEZ: ASSESSMENT TEAM SUPPORTS NEW CZECH PRT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001860 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CG CJTF-82 POLAD, JICCENT RELEASABLE TO NATO/ISAF E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017 TAGS: EAID KDEM PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: PRT GARDEZ: ASSESSMENT TEAM SUPPORTS NEW CZECH PRT FOR LOGAR PROVINCE Classified By: A/PolCouns Martin Murphy for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C/REL) The Czech Republic is considering establishing a new PRT in Logar Province. During a May visit to US-led PRT Gardez, which currently has responsibility for Logar, a Czech assessment team indicated it planned to give a favorable recommendation to the Czech government and to ISAF HQ for establishing a new Czech PRT in Puli Alam, Logar. The team envisions a 120-person PRT contingent that would include a 60-troop force protection element. With a permanent Coalition combat FOB already present in Logar, the Czech team believes it matches their limited resources. The team will push for quick Czech government approval in the hopes that the PRT would be fully operational for 2008. END SUMMARY. CZECH PRT ASSESSMENT TEAM VISITS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) An assessment team from the Czech Republic spent five days at PRT Gardez exploring the feasibility of establishing a Czech-led PRT in Logar Province, currently covered by PRT Gardez. A Czech Army colonel headed the team which included representatives from the Czech ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. The team viewed operations in and around the Gardez PRT FOB and spent several days accompanying a PRT convoy in Logar. They met local officials, observed PRT development project implementation, and participated in shuras with tribal elders in three districts. The Czech contingent was housed at the Puli Alam FOB of the Gardez mobile unit. POSITIVE FINDINGS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Czech team indicated it was favorably impressed with the possibilities that Logar held for establishing a Czech PRT. They alluded to the welcoming attitude of local officials, notably Governor Hashimi, Logar's relative prosperity and development potential -- including a large number of NGO's, its proximity to Kabul, and natural resources -- and the presence of a permanent coalition combat unit in Puli Alam as features that met their criteria for a Czech PRT. The team indicated that limited resources made it highly desirable to be co-located with an existing coalition combat base. The team indicated that the Czech government had discussed with ISAF HQ prior to the visit its interest in leading a PRT and had selected Logar as the most likely venue. All team leaders were enthusiastic about creating a PRT in Logar and asserted that they planned to move expeditiously to make a positive recommendation to the Czech government. DETAILED PLAN -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Czech team was eager to gain Prague's approval in part to take advantage of an anticipated expansion of the coalition FOB in Puli Alam, currently attached to the Gardez FOB. A new FOB is being constructed to house a U.S. battalion-sized unit that would be responsible for Logar, leaving the Gardez FOB to operate in Paktia only. The Czechs would like to either reserve space in the new FOB facility scheduled to open in July/August 2007 or to take over the existing FOB in downtown Puli Alam. Team leaders hoped that their government would make a positive decision within the next two weeks. ¶5. (C/REL) The new Czech PRT would have a larger contingent and superior equipment to the current Gardez PRT that has responsibility for both Paktia and Logar. The Czechs KABUL 00001860 002 OF 002 envision a 120-person PRT group, compared to 95 USG personnel now in Gardez. The Czech PRT would include 60-force protection troops; two 30-man platoons, one for static perimeter defense and the other for mobile force protection. The Czech team indicated the PRT would be equipped with 30-40 state-of-the-art vehicles and possibly 6 helicopters based in Kabul with medium airlift capabilities (a Czech aviation maintenance group is currently operating at Kabul airport.) The remainder of the PRT would have a heavier civilian component than most U.S. counterparts in Afghanistan, including civilian control of the civil affairs component. The Czech PRT would focus on development projects currently emphasized in the Logar Provincial Development Plan, including upgrading key secondary roads to Azra and Kharwar. They anticipate spending $30)90 million for development projects. EARLY APPROVAL SOUGHT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Czech team would like to gain quick government approval for the Logar PRT in time to begin moving in an advance team of engineers this summer and then the full compliment next February. In this way, the PRT would be in place for full scale operations in 2008. The Gardez PRT offered support for the team's proposal to the Czech government. ISAF PRIORITIES -------------- ¶7. (C/REL) ISAF's priority provinces for establishment of new PRTs remain Nimroz and Daykundi, with each presenting certain drawbacks to potential newcomers. Would-be contributors tend to prefer either the North (perceived as more stable) or the East (for an association with the robust U.S. presence in that region, which they tend to see as a reassuring, in extremis rescue resource). Both provinces present logistical challenges that most potential contributors find difficult to overcome. High summer temperatures and occasional dust storms impact Nimroz, while altitude, terrain and lack of roads would affect a PRT in Daykundi, probably Afghanistan's least developed province. Few potential contributors have rotary wing assets capable of operating in these environments. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) A Czech PRT in Logar would intensify development and reconstruction support, complement the planned expansion of permanently based coalition combat strength to the area, and placate persistent requests from Logar for an independent PRT. While the Gardez PRT has a full range of development and reconstruction projects in Logar, a high mountain range separates the PRT in Paktia from Logar, slowing transit and impairing PRT access during the winter. A separate PRT in this strategic area on Kabul's doorstep would provide an important and significant contribution to improving security. END COMMENT. WOOD