AFGHAN PREPARATIONS FOR PEACE JIRGA ON TRACK;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002005 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-82 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MARR AF SUBJECT: AFGHAN PREPARATIONS FOR PEACE JIRGA ON TRACK; ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED REF: KABUL 1684 Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Afghan Crossborder Jirga Preparation Commission is making good progress on its preparations for the August event. A number of substantive and logistical issues will be finalized based on input from the Pakistanis. The joint Afghanistan-Pakistan technical committee could meet as early as next week. The Commission expressed concern that no new donors have come forward to pledge SUPPORT and only the U.S. and UNDP have actually provided funding. President Karzai has expressed concern that Pakistan is trying to limit the jirga to one day and that it is failing to include a number of prominent secular Pashtuns on its participation list. See para 8 for action request. End Summary. -------------- TECHNICAL COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On June 13, Director of the Afghan Jirga Preparation Commission Secretariat Farooq Wardak sent a letter to his counterpart, Minister Sherpao, requesting Pakistani engagement on a number of jirga issues, and the two consulted by phone on June 20. According to Deputy Director of the Secretariat, Farid Hekmat, Sherpao agreed that the technical committee would meet in Kabul, possibly next week, to work on outstanding technical issues. The Afghan Commission has prepared a "Draft Logistics Operations Plan", which includes details on lodging, food, transportation, security, protocol, contracts, and staffing in SUPPORT of the jirga. The Afghans are eager to share this document with the Pakistanis and get feedback. The Afghans are preparing options for the Pakistanis to consider related to: how to operationalize the agreed seven-point agenda, number and size of working groups, and feedback mechanisms for decisions made. -------------- PARTICIPATION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Afghan Commission has developed a draft list of Afghan participants, which includes representatives from every province, major tribes, various government institutions (including Parliament, ministries, governors, and Provincial Councils),and women. The list is currently with President Karzai for review, and we are told to expect some changes. We have confirmed with UNAMA there are no UN 1267 names on the list and will vet the final list independently. ¶4. (C) The Afghan Secretariat staff reports that they have been told that Pakistan's participant list is at a similar stage, having been drafted by its Commission and sent to President Musharraf for approval. The Afghan Commission hopes to exchange lists with Pakistan by the end of the month. -------------- KARZAI'S SPECIFIC CONCERNS -------------- ¶5. (C) President Karzai has several times expressed concern that Pakistan is trying to make the Jirga too short (one day vs four-five days). He has also shared concern that Pakistan is failing to include a number of prominant secular Pashtuns on the Pakistani participation list. He mentioned four individuals KABUL 00002005 002 OF 002 by name: Asfandyar Wali Khan, Afriasiab Khattak, Mahmoud Khan Achekzai, and Maulana Fazl-Ur Rehman. -------------- FUNDING STILL NEEDED -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Aside from the US commitment of $500,000 and UNDP's contribution of $100,000, no other funds have been obligated. (Note: Using US assistance, channeled through The Asia Foundation, the Secretariat plans to contract 72 management and SUPPORT staff (including heads of sections, officers, assistants, camera crew, drivers, cooks, etc),pay for travel to/from and food for the Afghan delegates' pre-jirga orientation, and fund radio and television roundtables, clips, and messages about the jirga. End note.) Deputy of the Secretariat Hekmat expressed concern that the SIPDIS Commission will not receive funds to cover the $2 million shortfall (based on the Commission's $2.6 million budget). The Commission will continue to approach donors to ask for funds. (Note: In previous donor meetings (ref) Saudi Arabia, Japan, and UK representatives expressed interest in contributing. End note.) The Commission is developing an emergency plan to reallocate funds from the Office of Administrative Affairs if no other contributions are made. Per the Commission's request, the Ambassador will reach out to those who expressed interest in providing SUPPORT to encourage them to make firm commitments. -------------- COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶7. (SBU) We have reiterated our position that we will support decisions/arrangements made by the two parties. Preparations are moving forward in Kabul, and we welcome information on parallel efforts in Islamabad. ¶8. (C) We request that Embassy Islamabad urge Pakistan to ensure that the jirga duration and representation are right. WOOD