JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002536 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT OSD FOR SUZANNE BASALLA AND AIKO LANE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS AF JA SUBJECT: JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPANSION REF: A. STATE 97952 ¶B. TOKYO 2489 ¶C. TOKYO 2434 ¶D. TOKYO 2400 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a nd (d) ¶1. (C) Charge d'Affaires raised points contained in Ref A with Deputy Vice Foreign Minister for Foreign Policy Koro Bessho on September 16 and reminded him that the United States is still waiting for a response to our requests for further assistance to Afghanistan, to include: CH-47 and C-130 airlift assets; personnel contributions to Provincial Reconstruction Teams; a medical support package; and a five-year, USD 20 billion package to support rule of law, justice and prison reform, as well as sustainment of Afghan security forces. This demarche followed Charge's request to Bessho September 9 that Japan consider redirecting to Afghanistan Air Self Defense Force C-130 airlift assets which are soon to be withdrawn from Iraq (Ref B.) Bessho replied by noting once again that the current domestic political turmoil in Japan makes it very difficult to formulate a response to our request at this time (Refs C and D). (COMMENT: The situation may become more clear once a new Prime Minister takes office later this month. However, a snap general election is also in the offing for October or early November, and even then, it is likely the Diet will remain badly divided on whether to provide assistance to Afghanistan and, if so, to what extent. It is also likely that the Japanese are stalling for time, awaiting the outcome of the U.S. presidential election before committing to further significant assistance for Afghanistan. END COMMENT.) SCHIEFFER