NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001324 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UBI. EUR/RPM, SCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI COMMENTS, CONCERNS WITH MONIB REF: JULY 9 POLITICS IN THE NETHERLANDS Classified By: CDA Michael Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GONL was pleased with Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop's July 6-7 trip to Afghanistan. According to MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan, comments by Afghan President Karzai during van Middelkoop's visit were constructive, especially in connection to the Dutch performance during heavy fighting around Chora. Kleiweg also commented on recent press reports regarding lack of confidence in Uruzgan Governor Monib. He said the media "got it half right," but noted the Dutch will continue to work with Monib. Kleiweg discussed these issues with polmiloff on July 9. End summary. ¶2. (C) Kleiweg, who accompanied van Middelkoop on his trip to Afghanistan, described the visit as productive. He said Afghan President Karzai expressed appreciation for the Dutch military intervention during heavy fighting in Chora several weeks ago. Kleiweg described Karzai's comments as timely, and "an about-face" from previous criticism, especially regarding indiscriminate use of howitzers from long distances. According to Kleiweg, Karzai told van Middelkoop that he personally had verified as accurate Dutch claims of warning the civilian population of Chora prior to the commencement of fighting. Kleiweg added that the GONL appreciated efforts by COMISAF to "set the record straight" with Karzai. Kleiweg also noted that van Middelkoop left Afghanistan more confident that Kabul will follow through with promises to deploy more Afghan security forces to Uruzgan. ¶3. (C) Referring to press reports of a leaked "internal government report" casting GONL doubt on Uruzgan Gov. Monib (reftel),Kleiweg acknowledged that the report was authentic -- blaming the Dutch MOD for the leak -- but said the media "only got it half right." He said the report described reform efforts in Uruzgan as "stagnating," but attributed the weak performance on a variety of factors, such as Monib remaining on the UNSCR 1267 sanctions list and Kabul cutting Monib's funding. Monib remains Karzai's appointed governor in Uruzgan, and the Dutch will continue to work with him, Kleiweg reiterated. ¶4. (C) Kleiweg described Monib as a "lame duck," with limited influence in Uruzgan and no replacement in sight -- former governor Jan Mohammed Khan remains more influential, and as a result Monib spends more time in Kabul. Kleiweg said the leaked memo did not include allegations of corruption in Monib's office, or continued ties to the Taliban, but added he would not be surprised if these allegations were true. He described the people of Uruzgan falling under three categories: fighters, farmers, and prayers. "Monib is a prayer, but he seems to have lost the holy fire in his job as governor in Uruzgan," Kleiweg said. GALLAGHER