Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL3187
2008-12-10 11:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
AFGHAN LEADERS TELL AMB. KHALILZAD THEY ARE
how-toVZCZCXRO2655 PP RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #3187/01 3451150 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101150Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6375 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4453
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003187
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR MCGRAW
CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN LEADERS TELL AMB. KHALILZAD THEY ARE
PESSIMISTIC ON SECURITY
Classified By: CDA Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003187
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR MCGRAW
CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN LEADERS TELL AMB. KHALILZAD THEY ARE
PESSIMISTIC ON SECURITY
Classified By: CDA Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
¶1. (C/NF) SUMMARY. USUN Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad met with a
broad array of Afghan political leaders, civil society
activists, and government officials on the margins of his
participation in a UN Security Council fact-finding mission
to Afghanistan Nov. 24-27. He heard a common theme of growing
pessimism on the state of security and ethnic relations.
Afghan leaders told the ambassador that 2008 had been a rough
year for progress in the country and that uncertainty over
next year's presidential election added to the country's
instability. Contacts not close to President Karzai
expressed decreasing confidence in the ability of his
administration to address the challenges facing the country.
See paragraph 11 for Afghan officials with whom Ambassador
Khalilzad met.
Karzai's Mostly Negative Outlook
--------------
¶2. (C/NF) President Karzai told Amb. Khalilzad over two
private meetings and in a discussion with the UN Security
Council ambassadors that there were several reasons to be
concerned for Afghanistan. Karzai cited the country's chief
challenges as: civilian casualties, problems with Pakistan,
media reports that undermined the government (a reference to
a New York Times article criticizing his brother),and
"parallel" operations of certain PRTs, which he claimed
undermined local governance by some coalition partners. He
added that the security near Kabul had worsened to the point
that security forces could not provide security more than one
kilometer outside of greater Kabul. Khalilzad urged the
president to better manage his dialogue with the
international community both privately and publicly,
specifically asking him to re-word his criticisms of foreign
forces to emphasize better measures to protect civilians.
¶3. (C/NF) As for positive developments in Afghanistan,
Karzai cited the country's growing economy and financial
reserves, increased access to health care, growing numbers of
young people attending college, and an improving relationship
with Pakistan's political leadership. A recent phone call
with President-Elect Obama had also gone well. Khalilzad
assured Karzai the US commitment to Afghanistan would remain