PRT HERAT: IRAN AS A MULTI-FACETED ACTOR IN HERAT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 002334 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT, EUR/RPM AND NEA 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, JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR IR AF SUBJECT: PRT HERAT: IRAN AS A MULTI-FACETED ACTOR IN HERAT PROVINCE REF: KABUL 2324 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Carol Rodley for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Iran's strategic and economic interests in western Afghanistan, and particularly in Herat, are expressed in a mix of traditional (mostly soft) and non-traditional (harder-edged) engagements. While Iran's sponsorship of official and unofficial crossborder delegations and aid/development projects is welcome by Afghanistan, evidence of Iranian- manufactured weapons in Herat (recently witnessed by PRTOff) is of growing concern to Afghan officials who voice concern over Iran's potentially destabilizing influence in the province. END SUMMARY -------------- SOFT POWER -------------- ¶2. (C) Iran maintains a strong and obvious presence in Herat. The robustly-staffed Iranian Consulate-General in Herat (33 officially accredited diplomats) facilitates ministerial delegations and a effective and wide-ranging program of lower level exchanges. These include student-faculty exchanges with the university and inviting Herat Provincial Council members to meet their counterparts in Mashad, Iran. A large Iranian trade delegation recently visited the province. It included investors representing the dairy industry, medical procurement services, flour and pasta factory owners, electrical appliances, machinery and tools, engineering services and commercial insurance. Afghan industries in these same sectors are concerned that the local businesses will not be able to withstand a concerted and significant Iranian challenge. ¶3. (C) Iran's traditional cultural influence in western Afghanistan is being reinforced by GOI cultural projects. It recently dedicated three library facilities at the university in Herat - the Pilgrimage library, the new Herat University library, and the library of the Women's Affairs Department. -------------- HARD WEAPONS -------------- ¶4. (S) Iran is also providing weapons to Afghans. In April, the Herat PTS Director showed PRToff weapons that were turned in by Taliban reconcilees. These weapons included light weapons and grenade launchers and bore the stamps of the Iranian factories where they were manufactured, primarily in 2006 and 2007. According to the PTS Director, the reconcilees had claimed they received training in the Birjand, Zabul, Chaloos, and Karaj provinces of Iran and said that Iranian officials promised them access to anti- aircraft rockets. The Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI) reported that the Herat Regional Police Command located SA-7 missiles supplied by Iran and that a number of local residents are reputedly on the receiving end of the Iranian weapons supply line, including Mullah Abdul Hamid Eshaqzi and Nassrullah Khan (the titular successor and son of former assassinated Warlord Amunallah Khan). According to MOI, Shindand district, located in the southern part of Herat province, is a major conduit of illegal arms, supplies and narcotics to and from Iran. This contributes to Shindand volatility. ¶5. (S) Ghoryan's District Governor stated that Iranian elements have instigated Ghoryan residents to demonstrate against the upgrade of the Shindand KABUL 00002334 002 OF 003 Airbase. He claimed that many senior officials of his district and others are direct, paid agents of the Iranian regime. These Afghan officials allegedly meet with Iranian intelligence officials (the Iranian Intelligence Service 113) multiple times every month in Iran and are issued multiple-entry visas for easy access. The District Governor added his view that major Jamiat and former Jihadist figures maintain close links with Iran. He said they consider their western neighbor an "elder brother." The District Governor says that relatives of senior local NDS operatives enjoy these multiple-entry visas to Iran. He mentioned the elder brother of the local district prosecutor in Ghoryan district as being among these agents. -------------- MUSCLE FLEXING AND RECRUITING -------------- ¶6. (S) PRToff's principal interlocutors from NDS and other GOA agencies assert that Iran could have substantial destabilizing influence if it chose. There was concern expressed in March, when Iran undertook major maneuver operations in Tayebaad and Torbate Jam without any warning to GOA authorities. Local GOA authorities saw these maneuvers as aggressive and resented the Iranian muscle-flexing. The maneuvers coincided with the detention of five Iranian diplomats in Iraq. ¶7. (S) The ANP Police Chief showed PRToff a recent police report in Farsi, detailing the debriefing of an Afghan male, recruited by the IGRC to a training camp in Birjand, Iran. He was told to return to Afghanistan and recruit others. The IGRC reportedly recruits Afghan youth with the promise of large bonuses for service in Iraq against Coalition forces. This particular Afghan recruit had been issued an Iranian identification document and given 2.5 million Tomans, which were deposited into an Iranian bank account. The recruit reported that units of seventy men each were trained in Birjand to serve with the Mahdi Army in the Basra region of Iraq. This recruit claimed he fled to Turkey, then back to Iran, and eventually returned to his home in Afghanistan. -------------- DEPORTEES AND MEDIA MANIPULATION -------------- ¶8. (C) Approximately 140,000 Afghans have been deported by Iran since April 21 (ref). Others left voluntarily before Iranian authorities evicted them. The flow continues through the border crossing point at Islam Qala. The rough treatment dealt to some of the deportees in Iran has been featured in television and audio broadcasts. There have been claims of several deaths and numerous instances of physical mistreatment by Iranian authorities. The Iranian Consul-General in Herat responded to the reports with a letter to the station protesting the coverage of the deportee issue. This letter, in turn, provoked anger from provincial leaders who complained that the station was being manipulated by Iran. Herat TV showed viewers the letter written by the Iranian CG. Text follows: ¶9. (U) Text of Letter: From the Consulate-General of Islamic Republic of Iran in Herat: In the name of God, the Most Merciful and Compassionate Dear Mr. Hassamudin SHAMS Director, Herat National TV and Radio KABUL 00002334 003 OF 003 Greetings, Taking into consideration that Herat TV has published interviews contrary to reality and truth regarding physically abusing and beating up illegal Afghan refugees recently repatriated to Afghanistan, and other slander and lies against the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is now expected that in the future you will respect the principles of a free media by not publishing or airing fake news that is designed to adversely affect the fraternal, friendly and historical relations of our two countries. We ask Herat TV to take action upon receipt of this letter, in order to further enlighten the Afghan public, based on your current Afghan media climate and rules pertaining to free speech. Najafi MANESH Consul-General -------------- PLAYING WITH THE TIGER -------------- ¶10. (C) Edgy about the harder elements of Iranian influence, Afghan officials are calibrating their reaction. In June, Herat Governor Anwari accepted yet another donation from the Iranian Consul-General - five new Samand vehicles produced under license in Iran from BMW to be used for "protocol purposes," including presumably the weekly delegation of official Iranians. Iranian Consul-General has promised the Governor renewed attention on development efforts, and has stated that a team of development experts will travel to Herat from Iran in the near future. WOOD