Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL3019
2008-11-18 14:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN'S HAJ FLIGHT WOES PERSIST
how-toVZCZCXRO3726 PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #3019 3231442 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181442Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6174 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0686 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 0128 RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 4294 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 3363 RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS KABUL 003019
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S HAJ FLIGHT WOES PERSIST
REF: KABUL 2977
UNCLAS KABUL 003019
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S HAJ FLIGHT WOES PERSIST
REF: KABUL 2977
1. (SBU) The difficulties in airlifting Afghan Haj pilgrims to Saudi
Arabia that led to the dismissal of the last Transport Minister
(reftel) are continuing. More than a week after Haj flights were to
have begun, only about 900 of the 30,000 Afghans who have paid to
make the Haj have actually taken flights to Saudi Arabia. The few
flights that have occurred have been wet-lease contracts arranged by
the state-owned Afghan carrier Ariana Airlines with a Turkish
carrier. But since Ariana is officially banned by Saudi authorities
from flying to Saudi Arabia, it is unclear if even these wet-lease
flights can continue.
2. (SBU) The Afghan government has signed a new contract with a
Saudi-Swiss charter carrier, but this airline has not been able to
provide the promised number of flights, in part because of higher
insurance costs and complicated underwriting standards associated
with flights to Afghanistan. Some of the flights the Saudi-Swiss
contractor are to provide would be sub-contracted to a second
Turkish charter carrier, but its flights have been delayed
reportedly because of issues related to the Turkish civil aviation
authority. FM Spanta had to step away from a meeting today with the
Ambassador to address the issue. Embassies Kabul and Warsaw
subsequently assisted Spanta and the MFA to place a call to Turkish
FM Babacan, who was in Warsaw. Kabul's FAA Rep also continues to
provide direct assistance to the Ministry of Transport and Civil
Aviation in resolving technical issues. AmConsul Jeddah has also
helped resolve issues with landing slots on the Saudi end.
Commercial issues between the Afghan government and its contractors
present higher hurdles, and the USG has limited ability to influence
these.
3. (SBU) Meanwhile, thousands of would-be Hajis day after day await
news of when they will fly. Hundreds have been told to gather at a
mosque in downtown Kabul in preparation for departure. They wait in
reportedly squalid conditions and are becoming angrier each day that
the promised Haj flights do not occur. Demonstrations against the
government's handling of the Haj flights have already taken place,
and the possibility of further social unrest cannot be ruled out.
WOOD
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN'S HAJ FLIGHT WOES PERSIST
REF: KABUL 2977
1. (SBU) The difficulties in airlifting Afghan Haj pilgrims to Saudi
Arabia that led to the dismissal of the last Transport Minister
(reftel) are continuing. More than a week after Haj flights were to
have begun, only about 900 of the 30,000 Afghans who have paid to
make the Haj have actually taken flights to Saudi Arabia. The few
flights that have occurred have been wet-lease contracts arranged by
the state-owned Afghan carrier Ariana Airlines with a Turkish
carrier. But since Ariana is officially banned by Saudi authorities
from flying to Saudi Arabia, it is unclear if even these wet-lease
flights can continue.
2. (SBU) The Afghan government has signed a new contract with a
Saudi-Swiss charter carrier, but this airline has not been able to
provide the promised number of flights, in part because of higher
insurance costs and complicated underwriting standards associated
with flights to Afghanistan. Some of the flights the Saudi-Swiss
contractor are to provide would be sub-contracted to a second
Turkish charter carrier, but its flights have been delayed
reportedly because of issues related to the Turkish civil aviation
authority. FM Spanta had to step away from a meeting today with the
Ambassador to address the issue. Embassies Kabul and Warsaw
subsequently assisted Spanta and the MFA to place a call to Turkish
FM Babacan, who was in Warsaw. Kabul's FAA Rep also continues to
provide direct assistance to the Ministry of Transport and Civil
Aviation in resolving technical issues. AmConsul Jeddah has also
helped resolve issues with landing slots on the Saudi end.
Commercial issues between the Afghan government and its contractors
present higher hurdles, and the USG has limited ability to influence
these.
3. (SBU) Meanwhile, thousands of would-be Hajis day after day await
news of when they will fly. Hundreds have been told to gather at a
mosque in downtown Kabul in preparation for departure. They wait in
reportedly squalid conditions and are becoming angrier each day that
the promised Haj flights do not occur. Demonstrations against the
government's handling of the Haj flights have already taken place,
and the possibility of further social unrest cannot be ruled out.
WOOD