KARZAI ASKS CODEL TAUSCHER TO WORK TO REDUCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002471 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A, CG CJTF-101, POLAD, H FOR RICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER OREP MOPS ASEC PK SUBJECT: KARZAI ASKS CODEL TAUSCHER TO WORK TO REDUCE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES ¶1. (U)Summary: On September 6, President Karzai told Codel Tauscher that he has confidence in the results of IRoA's investigation of the Shindand operation. He urged the delegation to push Washington to establish a strategy to prevent future civilian casualties. Karzai expressed slight optimism that security in Afghanistan could improve due to the change of leadership in Pakistan. He acknowledged that lack of IRoA control in Helmand Province allows drugs to flow freely from Helmand out of Afghanistan. Finally, Karzai criticized the role of security contractors in Afghanistan. End Summary. Introduction -------------- ¶2. (U) Codel Tauscher, comprised of Chairwoman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee Representative Ellen Tauscher and Representatives Petri, Cooper, Porter, Reichert, and Boyda, called on President Karzai at the Palace. Ambassador Wood accompanied. ¶3. (U) Tauscher gave an overview of the delegation's itinerary during the three day visit, which included a trip to a police training facility in Jalalabad and meetings with General McKiernan and General Cone. She emphasized how proud the delegation is of the U.S. mission and troops in Afghanistan. Karzai said that U.S. politicians are most welcome in Afghanistan, and that it is always a pleasure for him to meet with them. Civilian Casualties -------------- ¶4. (U) Tauscher expressed deep regret on behalf of the delegation for the loss of any civilian lives in Afghanistan. Karzai said he appreciated that sentiment and also President Bush's recent communication to him regarding the Shindand operation. Karzai asked the delegation to work with other members of Congress to develop a strategy to reduce future civilian casualties. Tauscher assured Karzai that the delegation would take that request back to Congress, and that Congress takes the occurrence of civilian casualties extremely seriously. ¶5. (U) Reichert asked how Afghanistan and the U.S. could move past the tragic loss of civilian lives. Karzai said that Afghanistan has already started to move on, noting that Afghans were not out in the street protesting the Shindand operation. He also asked that IRoA and USG provide aid to Shindand, which he noted was a poor district even by Afghan standards. Finally, Karzai again urged the delegation to push for a new military strategy to prevent civilian casualties. Pakistan -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Petri asked what the challenges of leading Afghanistan were. Karzai remarked that compared to Pakistan, Afghanistan was a more united country with a less efficient government. Karzai had called to congratulate newly elected Pakistani President Zadari. Karzai said that Zadari was a good person but questioned if Zadari could control Pakistani insurgents. ¶7. (SBU) Boyda asked Karzai to predict the situation in Afghanistan in five to ten years. Karzai said that how Afghanistan's future develops depends largely on the security and political situation in Pakistan. Karzai expressed frustration with past U.S. policy toward Pakistan, stating that Pakistan had cheated the U.S. by using aid money to train insurgents to send to Afghanistan. Karzai claimed that Afghanistan would be a paradise if there were no problems coming from Pakistan. Narcotics -------------- ¶8. (U) Porter asked what IRoA was doing to control the flow of narcotics out of Afghanistan. Karzai said that 18 or 19 provinces were poppy free or almost poppy free. He acknowledged that Helmand Province is not under IRoA's control. Porter asked what USG could do to help IRoA establish control in Helmand. Karzai suggested sending more troops to protect the border with Pakistan. Security Contractors -------------- KABUL 00002471 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) Cooper asked whether there were problems with specific security contractors. Karzai said that Afghans feel uncomfortable when they see so many security personnel openly displaying guns, and that security contractors had "gone over the line" in the past. Karzai also expressed discontent that there was no reliable process to complain about particular contractors. Ambassador noted that in the past 18 months there had been only one, legitimate, escalation of force incident with security contractors. Ambassador also said that while he was pleased with the record of service of his contractors, he favors a stronger system for regulating and controlling them to separate the good ones from the bad ones. ¶10. (SBU) Comment: Karzai's manner was friendly and in reference to Shindand, he expressed willingness to work with coalition forces in a positive manner to develop a strategy to better protect civilians. End comment. ¶11. (U) The Codel did not have an opportunity to clear this message. WOOD