Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL2133
2007-07-05 12:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON JIRGA PREPARATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO3604 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #2133 1861208 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051208Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8969 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002133
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 CSTC-A. CG CJTF-82 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON JIRGA PREPARATIONS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2835
B. KABUL 2005
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002133
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 CSTC-A. CG CJTF-82 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON JIRGA PREPARATIONS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2835
B. KABUL 2005
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) The proposed date for the Afghanistan-Pakistan
Crossborder Peace Jirga is less than four weeks away.
Post remains concerned that the Afghans and Pakistanis
have not come to agreement on several key outstanding
issues. The Bilateral Technical Committee, which the
Afghans had hoped would meet in Kabul the last week in
June to address the outstanding questions, still has
not met. The Afghans do not have a firm commitment
from Pakistan on when their team will visit Kabul.
2. (C) Outstanding issues include:
-- Date: The Afghan Commission Secretariat confirms
that they still consider July 28 as the target start
date for the jirga. They report that they are
increasingly concerned with the short time available
before that date to get agreement and complete
planning.
-- Duration: The Afghan Secretariat staff confirms
that their planning and budget is based on three and a
half day jirga. They report that Pakistan has said it
believes the jirga should be limited to a day and a
half.
-- Representation: The Afghan participation list is
with President Karzai. The Afghan's understand that
the Pakistani list is with President Musharraf. There
is an assumption that the two sides will exchange
lists well before the jirga. We understand there was
a positive Afghan/Pakistani exchange on this at the
Rome Rule of Law Conference.
-- Outcome: The Afghans and Pakistanis have not
agreed on an "outcome" for the jirga. Post believes
that a simple agreed oral or written declaration
including acknowledgement of shared interest in ending
violence (and possibly economic cooperation) and
reinforcing the role of local leaders would suffice.
3. (C) Once the two sides have agreed on date,
duration, and expected outcome and have exchanged
participation lists, the Technical Committee will be
in a better position to address the other outstanding
issues, including agenda and format.
4. (C) Action Request: Given the lack of recent
progress and the limited time remaining, we recommend
instructions to both Islamabad and Kabul to deliver
messages urging the respective governments to ensure
that the Technical Committee meets no later than the
week of July 9 and that it reaches agreement on date,
duration, participation, and the anticipated outcome.
We would underline the importance of both parties
being urged to aim for a simple, principled
declaration as the outcome.
WOOD
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 CSTC-A. CG CJTF-82 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON JIRGA PREPARATIONS
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2835
B. KABUL 2005
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) The proposed date for the Afghanistan-Pakistan
Crossborder Peace Jirga is less than four weeks away.
Post remains concerned that the Afghans and Pakistanis
have not come to agreement on several key outstanding
issues. The Bilateral Technical Committee, which the
Afghans had hoped would meet in Kabul the last week in
June to address the outstanding questions, still has
not met. The Afghans do not have a firm commitment
from Pakistan on when their team will visit Kabul.
2. (C) Outstanding issues include:
-- Date: The Afghan Commission Secretariat confirms
that they still consider July 28 as the target start
date for the jirga. They report that they are
increasingly concerned with the short time available
before that date to get agreement and complete
planning.
-- Duration: The Afghan Secretariat staff confirms
that their planning and budget is based on three and a
half day jirga. They report that Pakistan has said it
believes the jirga should be limited to a day and a
half.
-- Representation: The Afghan participation list is
with President Karzai. The Afghan's understand that
the Pakistani list is with President Musharraf. There
is an assumption that the two sides will exchange
lists well before the jirga. We understand there was
a positive Afghan/Pakistani exchange on this at the
Rome Rule of Law Conference.
-- Outcome: The Afghans and Pakistanis have not
agreed on an "outcome" for the jirga. Post believes
that a simple agreed oral or written declaration
including acknowledgement of shared interest in ending
violence (and possibly economic cooperation) and
reinforcing the role of local leaders would suffice.
3. (C) Once the two sides have agreed on date,
duration, and expected outcome and have exchanged
participation lists, the Technical Committee will be
in a better position to address the other outstanding
issues, including agenda and format.
4. (C) Action Request: Given the lack of recent
progress and the limited time remaining, we recommend
instructions to both Islamabad and Kabul to deliver
messages urging the respective governments to ensure
that the Technical Committee meets no later than the
week of July 9 and that it reaches agreement on date,
duration, participation, and the anticipated outcome.
We would underline the importance of both parties
being urged to aim for a simple, principled
declaration as the outcome.
WOOD