COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO APHSCT TOWNSEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000201 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC PASS TO ADNAN KIFAYAT AND MICHELE MALVESTI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017 TAGS: AMGT ECON POL INTEL AF SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO APHSCT TOWNSEND DELEGATION FOR AFGHANISTAN REF: WHITE HOUSE 092219Z Classified By: A/DCM SARA ROSENBERRY, for reasons 1.4 b, d. ¶1. (C) U.S. Embassy welcomes the visit of Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Frances Fragos Townsend and grants country clearance for her visit February 8-9, ¶2007. Country Clearance is also granted to members of the APHSCT Townsend delegation: Michele Malvesti, Adnan Kifayat, John Howard Pearson III, and to APHSCT Townsend's three-person US Secret Service security detail. Control officer is Chris Hensman, email address hensmancd@state.gov; office telephone: 011-93- 70-10-8151; cellphone: 011-93-70-039-779. All travelers who possess U.S. Department of State badges should bring their ID for identification purposes and to obtain an Embassy ID. ¶2. (U) VISAS: A visa for Afghanistan MUST be obtained prior to arrival; visas on arrival are not available. You may need a visa for the cities you transit, as well. U.S. citizens do not require a United Arab Emirates (for Dubai) visa for stays of less than 30 days. ¶3. (U) There are many construction projects underway on the Embassy compounds. During the period of your stay, dust and/or mud, noise and disruptions will be a constant feature. ¶4. (U) IMPORTANT: Appropriate Clothing WOMEN: For meetings with Afghan officials, especially at the Palace, women are encouraged to wear long dresses (hemline line below the calf) or trousers, sleeves below the elbow and a modest neckline (no sleeveless or low necked tops). Many women wear a shawl or scarf. Some choose to wear a head covering in official meetings, especially outside of Kabul, but it is not required and normally not done in Kabul, including at ministries or at the Palace. MEN: For meetings with Afghan officials, especially those in ministries or at the Palace, men are encouraged to wear business suit and necktie. Wearing tight or revealing clothing is unacceptable both for official meetings and any time you are in public. For both men and women going off the Embassy compound it is appropriate to wear long pants or jeans and a shirt with a long tail and sleeves below the elbow. Wearing shorts and low waist pants and jeans revealing the bellybutton is not appropriate when out in the host country community. ¶5. (U) TRAVEL OPTIONS TO KABUL The recommended travel route to Kabul is through Dubai. This requires Embassy Kabul assistance to book flights from Dubai into Kabul. The traveler's assigned Embassy control officer should submit a GSO Travel Services Request with USG travel orders/fiscal data and the requested flight dates and times attached. Payment in cash is required for any traveler not on USG orders. The traveler is responsible for booking their hotel reservations in Dubai if transiting there. Flights are available daily into Kabul although they may be cancelled or delayed on short notice, especially during the winter months. Please note that the Embassy is closed on Friday and cannot provide customs, immigration, or baggage expediting on that day. a. Dubai: United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) and KamAir flights may be booked through the Embassy Kabul GSO Travel Office. Ariana Afghan flights are not authorized for travelers on USG orders. Passengers are allowed 30 kg (66 lbs.) of luggage with a $5.00 (UNHAS) or $3.00 (KamAir) per kilo overweight charge payable in local currency. UNHAS flies to Kabul on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, and KamAir operates daily. UNHAS flight check-in is at 1000 in Terminal 2 for a 1200 departure, and the KamAir flight check-in is at 0500 in Terminal 2 for a 0700 departure. For UNHAS flights, the passenger will receive an electronic confirmation from the Embassy Travel Office a few days before they travel. For KamAir flights, tickets can be picked up at the check-in counter in Terminal 2. Please be sure to identify yourself as a U.S. Embassy passenger to be assured they can give you your boarding pass. b. Alternate routes to Kabul DELHI: Indian Airlines flies between Delhi and Kabul on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Delhi at 1110, and KamAir flies from Delhi on Monday and Thursday, departing Delhi at 0930. These flights may be booked through a commercial travel agent, but you must inform your Embassy control officer and the Embassy Travel Office, at KabulGSOTravel@state.gov, of your arrival date and time so you can be added to the expediting and vehicle roster. ISLAMABAD: Due to security concerns and logistics problems, Post does not recommend transit through Islamabad. Transit through Pakistan requires country clearance and a valid visa and all arrangements for air travel, transport and hotels in Islamabad must be coordinated in advance with the Kabul Support Unit (KSU) at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Please contact KSU at crockercb@state.gov if transit through Islamabad is required. BAKU: Azal Airlines flies from Baku to Kabul on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday with a departure time of ¶0800. This flight may be booked through a commercial travel agent, but you must inform your Embassy control officer and the Embassy Travel Office, at KabulGSOTravel@state.gov, of your arrival date and time so you can be added to the expediting and vehicle roster. ¶6. (U) Communications: IDD telephone is 00-93-2-290005 and 290002. USAID/Afghanistan can be reached from the U.S. at (202) 216-6288. Post has unclassified and classified e-mail, record traffic, OPENNET Plus, and limited Internet capabilities. a. E-Mail Access: State Department employees only. Local computer accounts are not created in Kabul for TDYs of less than 90 days. TDY personnel in Kabul can access their home e-mail system through the use of Outlook Web Access (OWA). Personnel should check with their local systems administrators prior to departure to ensure their network is part of the Department's Active Directory, and to get the name of their local domain. This domain will be selected from the login screen from Kabul. Active Directory was created and installed to allow users to log in and access their e- mail from anywhere in the world, thereby avoiding the excessive workload on IRM staffs that is caused by creating local accounts. At any given time we are hosting numerous TDYs and it is not possible to create local accounts for short stays. Systems administrators should instruct the users in the use of OWA prior to departing. A word of caution: Active Directory allows users to log in from anywhere. However, it will also download your desktop to Kabul. Any unnecessary items such as large documents, PowerPoints, photographs, etc., should be removed from your desktop. Our network service can be slow, and the initial log in could take a long time if it is downloading unnecessary files. b. Official travelers on temporary duty, including non-State personnel, must coordinate the transport of official portable computers (unclassified or classified) that will be used within USG facilities with the RSO and ISSO. Please include make, model and serial number in correspondence to Post. Department of State policy prohibits the connection of official, portable computers to OpenNet or ClassNet without the explicit approval of the Post ISSO. 12 FAM 625.2.1 states that privately owned computers are not installed or used in any Department of State office building. ¶7. (U) Lodging is scarce and will be allotted according to the following priority: permanent staff staying a year or more, long-term TDY staff, short-term TDY staff and visitors. Most TDYers will be housed in multi-bunk rooms in trailers. Sheets, blankets, pillows and towels are provided. Rooms may be cool at night. Self-service laundry facilities are available. An American-style cafeteria provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with coffee, tea, and soft drinks within per diem rates. You may wish to bring towels, layered clothing for warmth, a small flashlight, and over-the-counter medicines as needed, hand lotion, lip balm, shower, shoes, and snacks. On the compound, American dress is the norm, but most women bring long sleeved garments, light jackets or shawls to cover their arms for trips off compound. Two Embassy gyms are available to all compound residents. ¶8. (U) Money: Travelers should bring cash dollars. TDYers should bring enough cash for their stay or a debit card, as an ATM machine is available. Credit cards and checks are not accepted in Kabul but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. ¶9. (U) Fiscal Data: In accordance with Department of State policy, post will direct charge each agency, organization or visiting delegation for the actual costs attributed to its visit. These costs include, but are not limited to, American and locally engaged staff overtime; field travel by Embassy employees; transportation costs for official vehicles; phone usage; and the cost for representational events. All/all visitors requesting administrative support services must provide the Embassy with authorization and fiscal data (e.g., travel orders) against which the costs for requested items can be charged. This information should be cabled or emailed to the Embassy in advance of your arrival. Please note that without a fund cite and authorization, post may not be able to provide vehicles, drivers, or other services. ¶10. (U) Ground Transportation: Travelers will be met at the airport upon arrival by an Embassy expediter, driver, and security officer. The GSO Motor Pool has limited capabilities and will give priority to official travel, with personal travel available only if vehicles and drivers are available. USG employees are not authorized to use public transportation. ¶11. (U) Medical: Kabul is a Class 1 Medical Clearance Post. If you have any significant medical problems, you should avoid travel to Afghanistan. In accordance with 3 FAM 1931.3 "Failure to obtain post-specific approval before traveling abroad may result in the individual being denied participation in the medical program and access to health units abroad." Excursion Civil Service, WAE and TDY personnel who will be at Post more than 60 days are required to contact MED Clearances at 202-663-1668 or email medclearances@state.gov to arrange or verify MED approval to come to Post well in advance of their departure date. a. Contractors or other long-term TDY employees who are not direct hire USG employees are not covered under the Department of State Medical Program, do not have Post Health Unit privileges, are not covered by M/DGHR/MED for medevac and should be covered by medevac insurance through their contracting company. b. The Embassy Health Unit is staffed by a Foreign Service Health Practitioner and a Locally Employed Physician. An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) hospital offers limited treatment capabilities. c. Kabul is in a malaria zone from March to November. During this time it is important to begin anti- malarial medication before arriving at Post. Either Mefloquine 250 mg weekly or Doxycycline 100mg daily are approved for malarial prophylaxis. These medications must also be taken for 4 weeks after departing Post. d. Individuals with sickle cell trait should carefully consider the altitude of this Post before applying for assignment here. Short-term (TDY) assignments carry an added risk because of the lack of time for acclimatization. Dehydration and stress from exercise or illness compound the basic risks of high altitude. e. Visitors should bring cold and intestinal medicines, saline nasal spray, lip balm, sunscreen, dry skin care, insect repellent with DEET, and tissues. If you wear contacts, bring an ample supply of cleaning solution and two pairs of your prescription glasses. The dry, dusty climate can make wearing contacts uncomfortable. If you are taking prescription medication (i.e. for hypertension or other) bring sufficient amounts for more than the expected length of your stay as pharmaceuticals are limited. ¶12. (U) Security Guidelines: a. The security environment in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan is dangerous. There is continued potential for attacks against U.S. citizens and interests in Afghanistan. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, rocket attacks, suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, shootings or bombings. Potential exists in Kabul and the rest of the country for demonstrations, riots, bombings, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests. b. Visitors are advised to maintain a level of vigilance and to heighten their security awareness while at post. American citizens have been victimized by vehicle-borne explosives and roadside bombs within the last year. Occasional rocket attacks in the vicinity of the Embassy compound are unpredictable and random. There have been incidents of carjackings and robberies directed against NGOs, journalists and diplomats carried out by aggressive and armed persons. The proliferation of weapons on the street is extensive. Host country and ISAF forces have had some success in making arrests and seizing weapons. However travel outside of Kabul remains extremely dangerous in many places, and travel within Kabul after dark should also be avoided. Due to restrictions on travel and limitations on available resources, TDY travelers should be prepared to expect delays and possible cancellations of events in Kabul and of proposed out- of-Kabul travel. c. All personnel are required to attend a RSO Security Briefing after arrival. Verification of security clearance level is required prior to the issuance of an identification card. Persons who will require unescorted access in the controlled access areas (CAA) are responsible for ensuring that security clearances are transmitted to post prior to their arrival. d. The U.S. Embassy maintains a 2400 curfew. However, changes in threat conditions may result in an earlier curfew on a temporary basis. The RSO must clear any travel outside of the city, as well as any proposed travel after dark. Travel during daylight hours is permitted, but must be performed in an armored vehicle. Anyone traveling off the compound must sign out on departure and back in upon returning to the compound. Personnel are advised to carry a radio or cell phone to maintain contact in the event of an emergency. e. Though the compound has been checked for mines and unexploded ordinance (UXO),there remains the remote possibility that a UXO or mine could remain. While in Afghanistan, do not touch anything suspicious, avoid picking up souvenirs, and immediately report any suspicious device to RSO personnel. Outside the compound, red rocks are uncleared mine areas, while white rocks are considered mine free areas. Be advised, however, there remains a 10% chance that unexploded mines remain in the mine cleared areas. For this reason, during all travel in Kabul or out of the city, travelers should remain on hard surface roads at all times. NEUMANN