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 Another deficiency was outdated Russian-origin chemical, biological, and radiological equipment.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