PRT FARAH: SEMI ANNUAL REPORT ON SECURITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 000700

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/FO, SA/A, S/CR, EUR/RPM
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
OSD FOR KIMMIT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: ECON MARR PINS PREL SOCI IR AF
SUBJECT: PRT FARAH: SEMI ANNUAL REPORT ON SECURITY,
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATION

Classified By: POLCOUNSELOR SROSENBERRY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: Incidents and attacks continue and security
remains tenuous and uncertain, but the police now show a
heightened presence with patrols and raids in Farah Province.
Governing dynamics will be seriously affected as Farah deals
with its third governor in less than six months. The
Provincial Development Committee (PDC) must write a
Provincial Development Plan. Poppy grows well in the dry
desert environment and is a leading source of income in the
province. There is a vital need for both foreigners and
Afghans to be able to coordinate, communicate, and cooperate
with each other, and to reach consensus and foster Afghan
ownership in reconstruction and development. End Summary.

Security Assessment
--------------


2. (SBU) Over the past six months, incidents and attacks
continued, and security remained tenuous and uncertain, but
the Farah police now show a heightened presence with patrols
and raids. In general, people say they feel security has
improved since demonstrations in September protesting the
lack of security. Local politics also played a role. Ever
since President Karzai removed former governor Wasifi in
August, Chief of Police Brigadier General Agha and the ANP
have worked in concert with the ANA to improve Farah,s
security posture. Wasifi had done his best to undermine Agha,
but with Wasifi's departure, Agha immediately increased
raids, arrests and weapons confiscations. The PRT-mentored
Provincial Coordination Center (PCC) worked closely with all
Afghan Security forces and the ANA to collect and disseminate
intel, monitor operations, and assist special event security
coordination.


3. (SBU) Kabul authorized an auxiliary police force to man a
series of checkpoints on the Ring Road from Delarom (newly
added to Farah from Nimroz Province) to the Herat border in
order to strengthen security in the wake of multiple
hijackings. The extension of territory in this large and
undeveloped province is stretching security resources even
more thinly. Hijackings and criminal activities continue, as
do reported Taliban attacks on ANP and ANA. Security forces
have discovered a number of IEDs and fielded numerous
threats. UNAMA has delayed opening an office in Farah until
the province is deemed safe.


Political and Governance Assessment
--------------


4. (C) The most recent change in Farah,s governor will
seriously affect governing dynamics as Farah deals with its
third governor in less than six months. Former governor
Wasifi left in August. Governor Stanikzai, named in
September to replace Wasifi, suffered a stroke which delayed
his arrival until October. On November 20 he had a second
stroke and left Farah for medical treatment. He returned
January 5 with no idea the MOI would shortly replace him.
Mawlawi (Mullah) Muidien Baluch, one of Karzai,s religious
advisors, has been named Farah,s next governor. (Embassy
note: Deputy NSA Ibrahim recently told DCM that Baluch is
being placed in Farah in part to send a message to Iran. A
long-time critic of Iran and known as fearless, his presence
is meant to help stop Iran from using Farah as a corridor for
influence in Afghanistan. End Embassy note.)


5. (SBU) PRToff meets often with the Provincial Council (PC)
to discuss the members' duties and responsibilities as the
province,s only elected local officials. She also speaks
with local officials to promote their coordination of efforts
and communication with each other, the PRT/Civil Affairs
(CA),USAID, and NGOs. Local government officials seem

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entirely too dependent at this time on foreigners to make
governance decisions. They are also very dependent on their
governor. For example, the PDC refused to meet without the
governor present. The governor,s office has been vacant too
often in the last six months, resulting in a slowdown of
provincial governance.


6. (SBU) The Provincial Development Committee (PDC),composed
of representatives from line ministries and various NGO,s,
must write a Provincial Development Plan. With PRT
assistance the PDC and PC, when brought a number of
individual wish lists given to the PRT/CA, did put together a
priority list from which the PRT could consult as they
considered how to spend money. Although all approved the
priorities, including the governor, it is still just a list.
The Afghans are dependent on the PRT/CA, USAID, the UN, NGOs,
and even the Iranians
to provide aid, ideas, funds, and projects.


7. (SBU) At the last PDC meeting, former Governor Stanikzai
(who worked many years with the Afghan Development
Association),stressed the importance of the plan per se
rather than having individuals (including government
officials) just going to the PRT to ask for pet projects from
their &shopping lists.8 He actually assigned them to start
working on the plan and an Interior Ministry official from
Kabul, posted in Farah as the Afghan Stabilization Program
provincial advisor, met with some PDC members the day after
the PDC meeting to start work with them on a plan. Before
Stanikzai arrived in Farah Province, the PDC, when told how
important it was to have a provincial strategy, responded
that they would ask the PRT, UN and local NGOs to make one
for them. With this dependence on others, it has been
difficult to build Afghan responsibility and decision-making
by consensus.

Reconstruction and Development
--------------


8. (SBU) Both the PRT/CA and USAID have put a great deal of
money into projects in Farah. USAID funding built the Ring
Road and road spur from the main road to Farah City. Other
projects include schools, school walls, a courthouse, a bank,
and a women,s affairs center. The PRT/CA funds a variety of
reconstruction projects, including digging wells, building
roads, structures, and providing humanitarian assistance.
The province receives money in six districts under the
National Solidarity Program (NSP) and according to the RRD
line director, of the 688 projects planned since receiving
funds, 324 are completed. Projects range from schools and
wells to literacy courses.


9. (SBU) PRT/CA was first off the mark to provide
humanitarian assistance for flood victims in November. The
PCC communicated with flood-affected areas, identified losses
and obtained information for PRT/CA on support needed.
However, the two truckloads PRT/CA gave to the RRD director
to distribute were never given to flood victims. The RRD
director, who works directly with PRT/CA on most projects,
held on to the supplies and reportedly the aid might be used
in Farah City. The PRT is helping the Red Crescent build a
system for humanitarian assistance distribution and
accountability.

Economic/Social Assessment
--------------


10. (SBU) Poppy grows well in the dry desert environment and
is a leading source of income in the province. On January 22
the ANP officially started the governor,s eradication
program. However, recent rains and intentional flooding of
fields hampers the use of tractors to destroy the plants.


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11. (SBU) Modern infrastructure is limited. There is no
electricity except that which generators provide. Tortuous
trips on roads of sand lead to villages where there are no
services and little water for agriculture, though this year
has seen increased rainfall after several years of severe
drought. Irrigation canals have been allowed to deteriorate
and there is no way in many places to capture this winter
rain. With few jobs available, men go to Iran, Pakistan,
Herat, Kandahar, and other city centers to find work to
support their families. Schools and clinics can be found in
district centers, though they are not necessarily staffed
with professionals. With security concerns, some schools
remain closed or are poorly attended. Women are employed in
government, as teachers and nurses, or by NGOs, but do not
work in the private sector. Women in villages are rarely seen
outside the home.


12. (SBU) The justice system is limited, so many of those
being arrested do not make it to court. In one recent month,
for example, judges heard only six cases and reached no
decisions. Currently there are 190 people in prison, and
although juvenile offenders and females are housed elsewhere,
among the male prisoners there is no separation of the
violent from the non-violent, or between those sentenced and
those still awaiting trial. Rule of law programs/judicial
assistance are lacking in Farah Province, and are much
needed.


13. (SBU) Comment: With the scope and range of the PRT/CA,
USAID, NSP, RRD, ASP, and NGOs plans and projects, the
situation in Farah begs for an improved coordination
mechanism. Each group seems to communicate only with a
limited number of others and then spends the money on what
are determined to be worthwhile projects. The result is a
hodgepodge of reconstruction, addressing short term needs
without full thought to rational development and long term
planning. For instance, some areas have multiple schools
while other places have none. Wells are needed all around
the province but seem to be clustered in certain areas more
than others. The requirement for a real Provincial
Development Plan is critical. The need for both
internationals and Afghans in Farah Province to coordinate,
communicate, and cooperate with each other, and to reach
consensus and foster Afghan ownership in reconstruction and
development is vital. End Comment.


NEUMANN