Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA1968
2008-10-05 07:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: MILITARY UNITS SOON MAY BE READY TO DEPLOY

Tags:  PGOV MARR MOPS NATO KZ 
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RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001968 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR MOPS NATO KZ

SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MILITARY UNITS SOON MAY BE READY TO DEPLOY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001968

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR MOPS NATO KZ

SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MILITARY UNITS SOON MAY BE READY TO DEPLOY


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified (military FOUO). Not for public
internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A NATO evaluation team judged the Kazakhstani
deployable battalion (KAZBAT) "interoperable and deployable," but
did note some deficiencies. ARCENT experts believe that the
deficiencies are not insurmountable. The Deputy Minister of Defense
indicated that Kazakhstan will soon deploy two staff officers to
Afghanistan and that these officers will be a test case for a larger
deployment of Kazakhstani military. It is the mission's belief that
continued engagement and assistance to the Kazakhstan military could
reap substantial rewards, both in policy as well as commercial
sales. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) The sixth annual exercise, Steppe Eagle, was held near
Almaty September 15-25. The goal of the exercise was to determine
whether or not the Kazakhstani deployable battalion (KAZBAT) met the
requirements of NATO interoperability Level One and evaluate its
progress towards Level Two. The exercise was truly international
with a multinational NATO evaluation team composed of officers and
NCOs from seven NATO nations and three Partnership for Peace
countries. The United States sent a substantial military contingent
to assist KAZBAT. The British army provided the opposition force
with more than 70 members of the Mercian regiment.


4. (SBU) The chief evaluator, a Norwegian colonel, judged KAZBAT
"interoperable and deployable." But this was not without
qualifications. The evaluation team had a long list of
recommendations that KAZBAT must meet to be NATO Level Two. The
chief evaluator said, "KAZBAT could immediately deploy to provide
perimeter security to a compound in a relatively secure area of
Afghanistan but could not conduct combat operations in Helmand
province." An American officer told Charge, "70% of U.S. Army
units would not have qualified under these standards." Among the
deficiencies, for example, was the lack of an organic explosive
ordinance disposal (EOD) unit. The Kazakhs have rotated EOD troops
into Iraq for the last five years and have dozens of
coalition-trained, experienced EOD specialists. Cross-attaching
some of these experienced EOD experts could be easily accomplished

before a deployment. Another deficiency was outdated Russian-origin
chemical, biological, and radiological equipment. The chief
evaluator stated, "In these days of dirty bombs, the most modern
equipment is required." (COMMENT: It is unlikely that dirty bombs
would be a major threat to KAZBAT if deployed to a peace support
operation (PSO). END COMMENT). It was discussed that providing
additional equipment would not be an insurmountable obstacle to
prepare KAZBAT for a potential PSO.


5. (SBU) The KAZBAT troops and officers seemed relatively pleased
despite the criticism and considered the exercise a success. They
marched in good order at the closing parade and lustily cheered
their junior officers and NCOs as they received various awards,
indications of excellent morale among the airmobile forces (some
still draftees although the goal is all contract). Other draftee
elements of the Kazakhstani army can often appear dispirited. At
the vodka-fueled concluding dinner, General Makayev, commander of
the airmobile forces, favorably compared his experience working with
U.S. and British forces while he was dismissive of the Russian and
former Soviet armies. He concluded, "You may have heard that
Kazakhstani officers do not want to cooperate with NATO. That is not
true here." General Makayev punctuated the point by giving repeated
bear hugs and the occasional kiss on the cheek to a senior western
officer. (NOTE: This is a tradition among former Soviet and Russian
paratroopers. END NOTE.)


6. (SBU) During an earlier meeting with Charge the Deputy Minister
of Defense, Major General Sembinov, stated that very soon two
Kazakhstan staff officers would be assigned to ISAF in Kabul. He
added that the success of their deployment would be the test case
for additional Kazakhstanis serving in Afghanistan. The British
Ambassador noted that he had heard that the Kazakhstanis were
interested in serving with a Slovak unit in Afghanistan. Sembinov

ASTANA 00001968 002 OF 002


also underlined that Kazakhstan has assigned one military observer
to Georgia and has an officer serving with the UN in Nepal.
Clearly, Sembinov is committed to using KAZBAT in a coalition PSO.
To date, the political leadership has been strongly opposed to an
Afghanistan mission, but with the Iraq mission ending, this could be
the opportunity to change that position. General Sembinov also
requested that he travel to Iraq for the final departure of the
Kazakhstani troops, which the Kazakh Government would like
accomplished by Constitution Day, October 25. He asserted that he
wants to discuss a continuing bilateral military relationship with
Iraq. He also asked that the Kazakhstanis be able to return to
Kazakhstan the U.S. equipment they have in Iraq, especially the
mine-protected Humvees. These vehicles would be essential for a
future deployment.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: Coming on the heels of the Georgia crisis, the
success of Steppe Eagle was a strong indicator that the GOK wants to
continue a security relationship with the West, as well as with
Russia. Very typically, just before Steppe Eagle, Kazakhstan sent
troops to Russia for CSTO exercises. Both exercises were
long-planned, and the post-Georgia situation did not deter either
from going forward and being trumpeted in the press. Even the often
described "pro-Russian" Defense Minister Akhmetov appeared at a
press conference for Steppe Eagle. Standing between two Humvees,
the most prominent non-Russian equipment in the Kazakhstani
inventory, he praised NATO-Kazakhstani cooperation. We believe that
continued and enhanced mil-to-mil cooperation could reap substantial
advantages for the United Sates. For example, following through on
the complete Huey 2 helicopter FMF program could lead to future
commercial aircraft sales including C-130s. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND