GUIDANCE REQUEST: FBI INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003796 SIPDIS SIPDIS FBI FOR DIRECTOR MUELLER STATE FOR S/CT COORDINATOR DAILEY NSC FOR ZARATE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV AF SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: FBI INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR BAGHLAN BOMBING, AFGHANISTAN Classified By: DCM Christopher W. Dell for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request (see para. 2). ¶2. (C) Guidance is requested from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the provision of FBI assistance to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRoA) in investigating the November 6 bomb attack that killed over 50 people, including six parliamentarians, in Baghlan, Afghanistan. ¶3. (C) Background: A sugar factory in Baghlan, Afghanistan was bombed during a visit by IRoA Members of Parliament (MP) on November 6. At this point the type of bombing is unknown, although a suicide bombing is widely suspected. The resultant explosion killed six MPs and more than 40 others, including schoolchildren present to welcome the MPs. A seventh MP was critically injured as were dozens more at or near the factory. On November 7, Under Secretary for Defense Policy Edelman, SIPDIS accompanied by Ambassador Wood, met with President Karzai for a courtesy call. At that meeting, President Karzai asked for U.S. assistance in the bombing investigation and welcomed Ambassador Wood's offer to request FBI assistance. The Ambassador suggested the FBI due to Legal Attache success in its ongoing IED initiative in Kabul. WOOD