AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS INCREASE IN AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000887 SENSITIVE NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/A FOR NISHA SINGH, EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2018 TAGS: PREL AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS INCREASE IN AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY REF: A. CANBERRA 873 ¶B. STATE 93225 Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) The GOA is broadly supportive of the proposal to increase the Afghan National Army (ANA),according to Shane Flanagan, Executive Officer, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Asia Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Flanagan expressed the appreciation of the GOA for U.S. leadership in Afghanistan and acknowleged the goal to strengthen national institutions such as the ANA, as critical to stabilizing the country. He observed that Australia is not a member of the Joint Coordination Board where the vote to increase the ANA will be taken, although Australia was an observer to a Board meeting held earlier in Tokyo. He advised that before Australia can consider participation in the multidonor trust fund, the GOA welcomes additional information on the management of the fund, as well as how it will be coordinated with the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan (CSTCA). Post requests Department guidance on these points. ¶2. (C/NF) Flanagan advised that Australia will deploy its Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Oruzgan Province in November 2008. He reiterated two points from a NATO briefing on OMLTs held in Canberra on July 9, 2008. The briefing cautioned that increases in the ANA would necessitate additional OMLTs, and that to the extent OMLTs are used to train the Afghan National Police (ANP),they will draw OMLT resources away from training the ANA. The GOA wishes to draw our attention to these potential pressures on OMLT resources. MCCALLUM