CABLE/PRT JALALABAD: 6 MONTH REPORT ON SECURITY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 000515

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, NATO/ISAF/AUS/NZ
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD
RELEASABLE TO NATO/ISAF, NZ, AUS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP MOPS PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF
SUBJECT: CABLE/PRT JALALABAD: 6 MONTH REPORT ON SECURITY,
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS


1. (U) Summary: Nangarhar province is an important
urban and agricultural center along Afghanistan's
eastern border. During the past six months, the
security climate has witnessed increased enemy
activity, including IED attacks and ambushes of PRT
convoys. The paving of roads and a dramatic reduction
of poppy cultivation were major achievements; however,
corruption and weak infrastructure (electricity and
civil aviation capacity) limit the viability of
competitive alternatives to poppy growing. Inadequate
health care and education limit labor productivity.
The establishment of a functioning Provincial
Coordinating Council is a positive development. There
have not been many gains in the lives of women, who
remain confined to the home due to cultural
restrictions. End Summary.


2. (U) Nangarhar province is the most densely
populated province in Afghanistan, with the second
largest population, but one of the smallest land areas
of any province. An important agricultural province,
dominated by the fertile Kabul River valley, the
province's mild climate allows many farmers to grow
three crops a year. Jalalabad, the capital city, is
the cultural, political, and economic center for the
whole eastern region and acts as the major market and
supply source for the region. The current population
of Jalalabad is estimated at half a million people and
is rapidly growing. The province shares a long border
with Pakistan, and the major highway connecting Kabul
and Islamabad runs east-west across the width of the
province, connected to Pakistan at the Torkham border.
A high volume of Pakistani imports come through
Jalalabad on to Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan.

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Security Situation
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3. (SBU) During the past six months, Nangarhar
experienced an increase in enemy activity leading up
to the celebration of Eid. This included an ambush on
a PRT convoy, and an IED attack in Khogyani that
killed the district subgovernor, police chief, and NDS
chief. Another IED attack in the same district
targeted a UNOPS vehicle there in conjunction with
USAID-funded road work. A security officer was
seriously injured. Following Eid, there has been a
steady amount of IED incidents. These have included
an IED attack on the subgovernor of Kama on January
18, and a similar attack the following week on the
subgovernor of Pachir Wa Agam. There are continuing
reports of insurgents' plans to target ISAF and Afghan
security forces. The people of Nangarhar are still
largely supportive of the Afghan government and ISAF,
and have in many cases turned in IEDs from around the
province. The arrest of Dr. Mohammed Hanif, former
Taliban spokesman, as he was crossing from Pakistan
into Nangarhar, was another major victory.

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Political Situation and Governance
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4. (U) Corruption and bribery are almost universally
acknowledged as "enemy number one" in the province.
Residents believe that until corruption is curbed, the
battles against poppy and terrorism cannot be won.
The visit of Afghan Attorney General Sabit in December
brought high hopes to many in the province, but most
feel disappointed that he ultimately only arrested the
"small fish" and none of the "big guys". Some of
those arrested have already been released.


5. (SBU) Another major change was the departure of

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both the Chief of Police and the Commander of the
Border Police in mid-January. General Abdul Basir
Salangi, who had a history of corruption and human
rights violations, was transferred to Parwan province
as Deputy Governor. The ABP Commander, General Haji
Abdul Zahir, has been reassigned to head the Eighth
Brigade in Takhar Province. Many people, including
Governor Sherzai, had pushed for the removal of both.


6. (SBU) The establishment of a functioning
Provincial Coordination Council in the governor's
compound was a step forward. The Nangarhar Provincial
Council is active, yet still unsure of its role or
authority. They appear to be splitting into two rival
groups, one led by the charismatic and dynamic
Chairman Fazlhadi Muslimyar, and the other by Tahir
Omar, son of Sherzad District "strong man" Zabid
Zahir. The Provincial Development Council, on which
the PC is represented, unfortunately does not function
well, and as a result the PDC has to date failed to
draft a Provincial Development Plan.


7. (U) Governor Sherzai remains popular. His
aggressive anti-poppy campaign has shown results, with
President Karzai acknowledging in a "Larry King Live"
interview on CNN the dramatic decrease in poppy
production in Nangarhar in 2005 (a decline of 96%.)
Although poppy production increased during 2006, the
Governor is aggressively pursuing an ambitious goal of
zero poppy production in 2007.


8. (U) The police suffer from a lack resources and
personnel. There are not enough police officers in
the districts, and in many places a number of them are
"loaned" to VIP's or other high officials rather than
staying in the district where they are assigned. Lack
of fuel for vehicles hampers their ability to
investigate crimes or respond to calls for help.
There is a large Regional Training Center for the
police run by INL outside of Jalalabad, and the Joint
Interagency Coordination Group of CSTC-A just
announced plans to add new programs, tripling the size
of the facility. There are also plans to build new
police headquarters in every district. The ASP
program started building several district center
facilities last spring, but due to a concern regarding
payment to contractors in Nangarhar all work was
suspended while payments were reviewed. The ASP
recently agreed that funds should be released to
complete construction and as a result, the district
center construction in Nangahar should be completed in
the summer of 2007.


9. Nangarhar's complex relationship with its neighbro
Pakistan has worsened during the past six months.
While almost everyone in Nangarhar spent some time
living in Pakistan during either the Russian
occupation or the Taliban times, and most still have
family members living in Pakistan, there is a wide-
spread belief that Pakistanis are causing all the
security problems in the province. The issue of the
border and teh Durand Line, the status of Pakistan's
Northwest Frontier Province, and President Musharraf's
proposal to build a wall and mine the border all
contributed to the uneasy relationship.

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Economic SituationQ --------------


10. (U) The paving of roads in Nangarhar province
during the past six months is one of the province's
greatest successes. The highway from Jalalabad to
Torkham Gate was completed and dedicated by President
Karzai and Pakistani PM Aziz in September 2006. The

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road from Jalalabad to Kabul has had improvements
also, which led to increased trade and investment
along this major artery from Kabul to Islamabad.
Meanwhile, most of the main roads in Jalalabad City
have also been paved.


11. (U) Over 2,000 trucks cross the Torkham border
point, approximately 76 km from Jalalabad, every day.
However, there are many issues over tolls and tariffs,
both legal and illegal, and a large group of Nangarhar
businessmen recently called a meeting with the
Governor to complain. They threatened a general
strike if the situation is not resolved. Another
problem is that the new Torkham highway is already
deteriorating, due to the huge loads being carried by
the jingle trucks (semis). There is a weighing
station at the border that is supposed to limit the
weight of trucks on the new road, but it has not
prevented overloaded trucks from using the road.


12. (U) Business owners in Jalalabad complain that
there has been less spending this past year, as a
result of lower incomes after the 2005 reduction in
poppy cultivation. While USAID has a very active
Alternative Livelihood program, the loss of income
from the highly profitable poppy has hurt the region's
economy.


13. (U) Public Services - The availability of power
in Jalalabad has deteriorated in the last six months.
The major source of power, the Russian built Darunta
Dam, continues to deteriorate. Even if it were fully
functional, the system was built to support 50,000
people in Jalalabad, not the current population of
500,000. There are about 12 hours of electricity
every third day for city dwellers, and no provincially
supplied power outside the city. However, USAID will
soon begin some $8 million of rehabilitation or
replacement work on the dam's three operational
generation units. When the work is completed in mid-
2009 the three units should have a peak capacity of 10
- 12 mw, doubling current electricity output.


14. (U) There is a serous shortage of teachers and
school buildings in Nangarhar. Teachers complain
loudly, and justifiably, about the ridiculously low
salaries and large student-teacher ratios. Many
teachers only have a twelfth grade education
themselves. Schools do not have enough classrooms,
and some do not have any building at all. In the
district of Dur Baba, none of the eight schools have a
building and all classes are conducted outside undeQ
trees or tarps.


15. (U) Nangarhar has two large hospitals that
service the whole eastern region, but one of them, the
University Hospital, has been struggling during the
past six months due to lack of funds. The lack of
electricity and running water is a constant problem.
There are stories of people being asked to come up
with payments during the middle of an operation, due
to the hospital running out of fuel to power the
generator for the equipment needed to continue the
operation.

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Cultural/Social Situation
--------------


16. (U) Nangarhar has a major university, and a good
education system compared to other Pashtun areas.
However, it still lags behind other parts of the
country in terms of education and women's rights.
While there are three women on the Provincial Council
and three in Parliament, women are almost invisible

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outside the family home or compound. When they do
venture out, they are almost always completely covered
by a burka. They have a very real fear of being
kidnapped or even killed if they do not follow the
strict rules of behavior.


17. (U) Nangarhar does have its own TV station (NTV)
and a number of radio stations. The Indian government
is supporting the development of a local cable
channel, and many people, especially in the city, do
have access to news from the various media.

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Comment
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18. (U) Given Nangarhar's strategic location as a
trade center along the Pakistani border, greater
investment in the province would play a key role in
boosting the national economy by expanding imports and
exports. The ROZ initiative could provide a positive
impetus in this direction. However, unless new
infrastructure is provided (electricity),existing
infrastructure is maintained (roads),the Jalalabad
airport reconfigured to support commercial traffic,
and corruption reduced, Nangarhar is unlikely to
attract significant new investment. There is also a
critical need for increased provision of services like
health care and improved education to boost
productivity and raise the quality of life.
NEUMANN