Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL3332
2008-12-30 06:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
TAGAB STABILITY INITIATIVE PROGRESSING SLOWLY
how-toVZCZCXRO6567 OO RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #3332 3650656 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 300656Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6569 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003332
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CENTCOM FOR CG CSTC-A, CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF KDEM
SUBJECT: TAGAB STABILITY INITIATIVE PROGRESSING SLOWLY
Classified By: A/DCM Valerie Fowler for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003332
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CENTCOM FOR CG CSTC-A, CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF KDEM
SUBJECT: TAGAB STABILITY INITIATIVE PROGRESSING SLOWLY
Classified By: A/DCM Valerie Fowler for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (U) UNAMA and the PRT continue to work with the
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG),USAID,
and local leaders to ensure success in the creation of the
Afghan Social Outreach Program (ASOP) shura in Tagab, Kapisa.
Local figures are already vying for leadership positions in
the very fractured Tagab district. This dynamic poses some
problems for implementation of the ASOP shura as currently
proposed. USAID is in the procurement phase of ASOP, which
will likely be completed at the end of January. A unified
shura is one of the key "solutions" proposed by the locals at
October's Peace Jirga, and they are looking for
implementation soon. The delay may jeopardize the nascent
progress to unify the community around the ASOP shura. To
help mitigate possible consequences of a late start, the PRT
and UNAMA are pursuing options to bring in conflict
mitigation training and continue informal discussions in the
interim. USAID has approximately 13 on-going projects in
Tagab. USAID engages with community elders and GIRoA
officials in isolated and underserved communities to
implement small infrastructure projects. These projects are
labor intensive and focus on uniting belligerent groups to
work together to better their communities.
Doubling ASOP Shura Participants
--------------
2. (U) Dr. Munawar Khan, head of the Provincial Council in
Kapisa requested that the proposed number of participants
increase from 40 to 80 and that the established sum of USD
125 for each member be reduced to USD 62.50 per person to
accommodate this shift. He felt the increased number would
ensure that all the communities are included in the ASOP
shura. If kept at 40, he expressed great concern, echoed by
other provincial leaders, that it would create more conflict
in the area as this number is not
sufficient to represent all of the various groups. UNAMA is
working with IDLG to try to reach an agreement on this issue.
In addition to avoiding conflict, the increase in people
would ensure better participation and a payment that is more
in-line with the job. On the downside it may be harder for
larger group to come to a decision. Dr. Khan acknowledged
this, but felt a decrease in efficiency would be worth
uniting the community.
Political Positioning and Perspectives
--------------
3. (C) Haji Tahir (Taher),a community leader from Tagab is
promoting himself as the leader of the shura, despite the
fact that the shura is not yet established and there are not
yet designated leaders. Most likely, he is trying to
pre-position himself for the job. The PRT and UNAMA view him
as a negative actor in the district, with strong ties to the
Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG). This, as well as his close
association with Governor Abu Baker (who is poorly regarded
by most of the people in Tagab) would make it difficult for
him to effectively lead a unified shura and gain the people's
support. While UNAMA officially maintains they have a
neutral position, unofficially they too have misgivings about
Tahir as the leader.
Further UN Involvement
--------------
4. (C) This ASOP shura, a GIRoA led program, belongs to a
political reconciliation strategy drafted by UNAMA and
officially implemented by Governor Abu Baker - although the
Governor's involvement is shallow at best. UNAMA's Senior
Representative for the Secretary General, Ambassador Kai
Eide, is encouraging other UN entities to find ways to
support political reconciliation and complement these efforts
through their programs, but, thus far, no concrete
commitments have been made. In time, this program may serve
as a catalyst for bringing some of the UN's disparate efforts
together with Tagab as its showcase.
WOOD
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CENTCOM FOR CG CSTC-A, CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF KDEM
SUBJECT: TAGAB STABILITY INITIATIVE PROGRESSING SLOWLY
Classified By: A/DCM Valerie Fowler for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (U) UNAMA and the PRT continue to work with the
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG),USAID,
and local leaders to ensure success in the creation of the
Afghan Social Outreach Program (ASOP) shura in Tagab, Kapisa.
Local figures are already vying for leadership positions in
the very fractured Tagab district. This dynamic poses some
problems for implementation of the ASOP shura as currently
proposed. USAID is in the procurement phase of ASOP, which
will likely be completed at the end of January. A unified
shura is one of the key "solutions" proposed by the locals at
October's Peace Jirga, and they are looking for
implementation soon. The delay may jeopardize the nascent
progress to unify the community around the ASOP shura. To
help mitigate possible consequences of a late start, the PRT
and UNAMA are pursuing options to bring in conflict
mitigation training and continue informal discussions in the
interim. USAID has approximately 13 on-going projects in
Tagab. USAID engages with community elders and GIRoA
officials in isolated and underserved communities to
implement small infrastructure projects. These projects are
labor intensive and focus on uniting belligerent groups to
work together to better their communities.
Doubling ASOP Shura Participants
--------------
2. (U) Dr. Munawar Khan, head of the Provincial Council in
Kapisa requested that the proposed number of participants
increase from 40 to 80 and that the established sum of USD
125 for each member be reduced to USD 62.50 per person to
accommodate this shift. He felt the increased number would
ensure that all the communities are included in the ASOP
shura. If kept at 40, he expressed great concern, echoed by
other provincial leaders, that it would create more conflict
in the area as this number is not
sufficient to represent all of the various groups. UNAMA is
working with IDLG to try to reach an agreement on this issue.
In addition to avoiding conflict, the increase in people
would ensure better participation and a payment that is more
in-line with the job. On the downside it may be harder for
larger group to come to a decision. Dr. Khan acknowledged
this, but felt a decrease in efficiency would be worth
uniting the community.
Political Positioning and Perspectives
--------------
3. (C) Haji Tahir (Taher),a community leader from Tagab is
promoting himself as the leader of the shura, despite the
fact that the shura is not yet established and there are not
yet designated leaders. Most likely, he is trying to
pre-position himself for the job. The PRT and UNAMA view him
as a negative actor in the district, with strong ties to the
Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG). This, as well as his close
association with Governor Abu Baker (who is poorly regarded
by most of the people in Tagab) would make it difficult for
him to effectively lead a unified shura and gain the people's
support. While UNAMA officially maintains they have a
neutral position, unofficially they too have misgivings about
Tahir as the leader.
Further UN Involvement
--------------
4. (C) This ASOP shura, a GIRoA led program, belongs to a
political reconciliation strategy drafted by UNAMA and
officially implemented by Governor Abu Baker - although the
Governor's involvement is shallow at best. UNAMA's Senior
Representative for the Secretary General, Ambassador Kai
Eide, is encouraging other UN entities to find ways to
support political reconciliation and complement these efforts
through their programs, but, thus far, no concrete
commitments have been made. In time, this program may serve
as a catalyst for bringing some of the UN's disparate efforts
together with Tagab as its showcase.
WOOD