PRT LASHKAR GAH, HELMAND PROVINCE: MUSA QALEH POLITICAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 004157 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO DAS CAMP, SCA/A STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR JWOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CSTC-A, CG CJTF-82 POLAD SENSITIVE, SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: MCAP MOPS PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF SUBJECT: PRT LASHKAR GAH, HELMAND PROVINCE: MUSA QALEH POLITICAL UPDATE KABUL 00004157 001.3 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The political reconstruction of Musa Qaleh is proving to be an extremely complicated process. However, the sustained presence of Minister Popal, of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG),has kept officials focused on governance creation for Musa Qaleh. Popal's ministerial position allows him to work with various Helmand factions and he has leaned heavily on Helmand officials to contribute to the development process. The selection of a District Governor for Musa Qaleh has proven very problematic but Popal and local officials agreed to place Helmand Deputy Governor, Haji Pir Mohammad, in the position temporarily. The PRT leadership welcomes Popal's efforts to energize the provincial government and ensure that it understands how important governance development in Musa Qala is critical to success. Musa Qaleh District Governor -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Minister Popal and local officials reached agreement that Helmand Deputy Governor, Haji Pir Mohammad, will serve as the temporary District Administrator for Musa Qaleh. Pir Mohammad is from Musa Qaleh and has agreed to take the post for two months. Popal told PRT officers that it was important to fill the position now and that President Karzai would support Pir Mohammad's selection. Popal and PRT leadership want to convene a Jirga to select a permanent Administrator but cannot agree on a date. Popal also believes that the GIRoA needs to take time to demonstrate its commitment to the residents of Musa Qaleh to weaken their ties to Taliban forces. At that point, a Jirga should be convened so GIRoA supporters can come forward to be part of the district government. PRT leadership wanted the Jirga convened this week but agreed that the priority was to get the GIRoA on the ground to support reconstruction and governance efforts. Pir Mohammad said he will take up his post after Eid and will support GIRoA and PRT development efforts in Musa Qaleh. Why Pir Mohammad? -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Pir Mohammad emerged as a compromise after other candidates were found unacceptable. Mullah Salam, who had been held up by the 
UK and others after his putative split with Mullah Torjan, was briefly considered and then quickly dropped. Critics pointed out that Salam had contributed very little, either militarily or politically, to current operations and is not considered by Popal to be "a liability and a distraction from the main effort in Musa Qaleh." Even Governor Wafa has admitted that he "made a mistake in supporting Salam." Salam remains holed up in his compound and has refused to cooperate with Afghan and ISAF forces. ¶4. (SBU) Governor Wafa continues to support Musa Qala elder, Haji Zahir, as his first choice for the job. Haji Zahir told PRT officers that he had been very well received by both ANA General Muhaidan and various elders on Dec 17. He also asserted that the majority of the residents supported the GoA and ISAF forces. Zahir said residents wanted protection from the Taliban, with some residents claiming that enemy forces were already working their way back into the city. The PRT leadership was impressed by Zahir's personnel travel to Musa Qaleh and continues to work with him to expand their contacts with the local population of Musa Qaleh. Governance for Musa Qaleh -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Popal has been in Helmand one week and continues to push local officials to participate in Musa Qaleh operations. After his trip to Musa Qaleh last week, (Reftel),Popal convened a joint development meeting with PRT officers and local officials to create a comprehensive plan for Musa Qaleh. His insistence that local officials prepare plans for their sectors has slowed the process and presented a real challenge to many Helmand officials. Governor Wafa rarely involved Helmand officials in significant planning and many are clearly unprepared to contribute usefully to the process. Popal used his staff in Musa Qaleh and Lashkar Gah to coordinate the planning process and told PRT Officers he may keep staff in Helmand to ensure that the effort does not falter. This is welcome news to the PRT leadership. They see the presence of the IDLG staff as the best way to maintain GoA attention on Musa Qaleh and, if possible, KABUL 00004157 002.3 OF 002 to address further governance development in Gereshk and Sangin. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The selection of a temporary Administrator is a welcome development, but it highlights the serious problems of building governance capacity in Helmand. Gereshk and Sangin have seen significant material reconstruction over the past few months but still have no functioning local government. As a result, the PRT leadership has invested considerable time and effort with Popal and Wafa to get a functioning local government in Musa Qaleh as early as possible. WOOD