RABBANI DISCUSSES ELECTIONS, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002128 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/A NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: RABBANI DISCUSSES ELECTIONS, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT WITH DCM REF: A. A. KABUL 1948 ¶B. B. KABUL 1812 ¶C. C. KABUL 1504 Classified By: DCM Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, currently a member of the Afghan Lower House and key leader in the United Front opposition coalition, stressed his commitment to seeing elections through and pressing the government to resolve ethnic disputes in an Aug. 10 lunch with the DCM. Rabbani generally accepted US positions on elections, security, and attracting foreign investment, and thanked the USG for its efforts to promote development in his home province of Badakhshan. Rabbani said maneuverings to select presidential candidates were already well underway and he expects his Jamiat party and United Front coalition colleagues to begin seriously considering their endorsements this fall. -------------- Elections -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During a free ranging lunch conversation with the DCM, also attended by USAID Kabul Mission Director, PolCouns, and PolOff, Rabbani agreed successful completion of next year's elections was key to Afghanistan's security, but felt that certain agreements to improve security, resolve inter-ethnic disputes, and address concerns of MPs were needed with President Karzai before all Afghan leaders could have full confidence in the elections timeline. Rabbani said he wanted to ensure that elections themselves were not the objective, but instead a means to better lives for Afghan citizens. Rabbani was committed to the elections occurring on time. ¶3. (C) The DCM stressed that elections were key to the survival of any democracy and encouraged Afghan leaders to publicly advocate their support for the elections process with unified voices and encourage all elements of Afghan society to participate in the elections process. He also made clear that the USG had no favored candidate - it would support whoever the Afghan people freely selected. That said, the USG may face a circumstance where it may object to a candidate, such as ONE who has ties to Iran or Russia. We would also object to a candidate who would advocate reconciliation with the Taliban or other extremists under conditions inconsistent with the Afghan constitution. -------------- Hazara-Kuchi Dispute -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Rabbani criticized Karzai's government for doing little to end the stand off over grazing lands between Kuchi nomads and ethnic Hazaras in the country's central highlands (ref A),adding that interference from foreign elements supporting either side was exacerbating the conflict. DCM asked whether such outside influence was coming from Iran (supporting Hazaras) or Pakistan (supporting the ethnically Pashtun Kuchis),to which Rabbani said evidence of involvement by both countries merited further investigation. Rabbani was concerned the dispute showed a larger failing of the government to address inter-ethnic conflict, saying poor relations among Afghanistan's minorities had grown worse in the last few years. He contrasted the current unrest with the relative peace he experienced during a tour of southern and western provinces he made some years ago to visit tribal leaders there. -------------- National Politics -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Rabbani said the United Front coalition would soon settle on endorsing ONE presidential candidate, preferably in advance of the first round of next year's KABUL 00002128 002 OF 002 election. Although specific candidates currently remain unknown, he was optimistic Afghan parties and their voters would look beyond ethnic boundaries when selecting a president, pointing to his own support among southern Pashtuns during his time as president (Rabbani himself is a possible United Front or Jamiat candidate for next year as well). Despite this apparent interest in pan-ethnic candidates, Rabbani also said voters will ultimately face a choice between a Pashtun and Tajik candidate, with other ethnicities falling in line behind ONE of the two more dominant groups. ¶6. (SBU) Rabbani said his Jamiat party would like to organize a party conference this fall similar to gatherings held earlier this summer by Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) and Junbesh (refs B, C). However, he said because the party lacked funds to pay for such a meeting large enough to fit its national membership, Jamiat may look to more regional conferences instead. Party leaders would concentrate the regional conferences in their traditional northern and western strongholds. -------------- Foreign Investment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The DCM pressed Rabbani to encourage support for pro investment legislation among MPs and overcome tendencies among some members to favor strict government controls on business and trade. The DCM cited the example of Afghanistan's progressive telecommunications law and the resulting vibrant cellular telephone sector. Rabbani said his home province of Badakhshan was known for its history of successful businessmen and traders and he understood the value of increasing foreign commerce. The DCM said Rabbani should encourage business-friendly elements in the National Assembly to act quickly to pass bills such as the Contracts Law that provide more security for those in the private sector looking to invest in Afghanistan. -------------- Development in Badakhshan -------------- ¶8. SBU) Rabbani thanked the USG for its development programs in Badakhshan, particularly the $118 million road linking Fayzabad to Keshem, which he said had received high levels of public support. However, Rabbani noted the perception that the province's relative security meant that international donors were looking to less secure regions to concentrate their aid. USAID Director said despite that perception, USAID had directed more than $85 million in aid over the last five years, facilitated the Fayzabad road construction, built schools, printed textbooks, and built and rehabilitated HEALTH facilities in the province. He also assured Rabbani USAID would continue to provide assistance with alternative livelihood programs to fight poppy cultivation and ensure US support to international food aid programs for Afghanistan. DCM added the USG would likely contribute its traditional one-third of the total World Food Program response to GIRoA food assistance appeals. Rabbani also thanked USAID for its role in promoting Badakhshan's wildlife conservation efforts, and asked for additional support for water resources management. WOOD