Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USNATO2
2008-01-03 15:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TOUR OF AFGHAN REGIONAL LEADERS

Tags:  MOPS NATO PREL 
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VZCZCXYZ0023
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNO #0002/01 0031531
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031531Z JAN 08
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0433
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0791
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1529
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000002 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2008
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TOUR OF AFGHAN REGIONAL LEADERS
TO NATO, BERLIN

Classified By: DCM Richard Olson for reasons 1.4 B & D

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000002

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2008
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL
SUBJECT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TOUR OF AFGHAN REGIONAL LEADERS
TO NATO, BERLIN

Classified By: DCM Richard Olson for reasons 1.4 B & D


1. (U) SUMMARY: For the first time, USNATO sponsored a NATO
tour for Afghan provincial officials to Brussels and Berlin
December 11-14. This joint effort with Embassy Kabul brought
influential decision makers and leaders of society from vital
Afghan provinces to the centers of decision making and public
opinion on the NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) missions in Afghanistan. The group,s
interaction with both officials and the media generated great
interest and lengthy discussions, as well as ideas for more
effective outreach to European audiences through Afghan
voices. USNATO plans to expand this program and to bring
other Afghan leaders to key European capitals, both through
visits and through virtual remote links as resources allow.
END SUMMARY


2. (U) USNATO recently sponsored a tour for influential
decision makers and leaders of society from vital Afghan
provinces to Brussels and Berlin to introduce them to these
centers of decision and public opinion on the ISAF mission in
Afghanistan. This first such USNATO-sponsored tour bringing
Afghan officials to Europe proved so successful that future
tours are already being planned. Participants included:
Asadullah Khalid, Governor of Kandahar Province (former
Governor of Ghazni)
Nazir Ahmad, Aide to Governor Khalid (and President Karzai,s
son-in-law)
Malawi Ruhanni, Head of Ulema Shura, President of Religious
Scholars, Farah Province
Hangama Sadeet, Farah Provincial Council Speaker
Muhammad Omari, Head of Radio and TV Department, Farah
Province
Mohammad Naim, Deputy Director for Labor and Social Affairs,
Badghis Province


3. (U) In Brussels, the program included meetings with U.S.
Ambassador to NATO Nuland, Chairman of NATO,s Military
Committee General Henault, and NATO Deputy Secretary General
Bisogniero. The group also met with representatives from our
Allies and the NATO International Staff to discuss strategic
communications, and with Supreme Allied Commander Europe
(SACEUR) Craddock,s Chief of Staff General Lather,( Germany

). In addition, Ambassador Nuland hosted an event with NATO
Permanent Representatives from France, Germany, Italy,
Denmark, and The Netherlands, as well as representatives from
Spain and the UK. The Berlin portion of the trip has been
reported separately from Berlin, and proved to be valuable in
exposing Afghans to the politics in an important Allied
nation. Programs in both cities ended with media
opportunities in which the Afghan officials, particularly
Governor Khalid, spoke about the success of ISAF operations
and what more the international community could do to advance
security in the region.

MESSAGE: SECURITY, SECURITY, SECURITY (


4. (C/NF) Governor Khalid, the de facto voice of the
delegation, is a well-connected mover and shaker in
Afghanistan, and is very savvy in both formal meetings and
with the media. He understands differing audiences and how
to subtly adapt his message, which was mainly about security
both in Kandahar and generally in Afghanistan. He described
the relationship between security and reconstruction as one
of &chicken and egg,8 and expressed his firm belief that
without a lasting, stable and secure environment,
implementing development and reconstruction projects simply
wastes time and energy. In private with the U.S., he was
quite critical of the performance of some ISAF contributor
nations, especially in RC-W, and stated that Italy had paid
local Taliban commanders to avoid hostilities. In the larger
groups, including with Ambassadors,Governor Khalid was
greatly appreciative of ISAF, and particularly of the work of
Canadians in Kandahar. Ulema Shura head Ruhanni applauded
the contributions of ISAF, noting that &compared to five
years ago, we have everything.8 He also stressed that if
NATO and the international community stay firm, &we will
win.8 In response to a question from the Canadian PermRep
about when the Afghan National Security Forces would be able
to do most of the fighting, Governor Khalid noted that the
Afghan Army is able to do some alone or in the lead (as
demonstrated in Ghazni and in Musa Qala),but they are not

adequately equipped, lacking helicopters and heavy weaponry
in particular. He asked Allies to be patient and to exert
more pressure both in the fighting and in the training.


5. (C/NF) Ms. Sadeet of the Farah Provincial Council agreed
that in Farah, as well, the major problem is security, but
that from the perspective of her constituents, the situation
is getting considerably worse as the Taliban increasingly
draw on support coming from Pakistan. Although she expressed
appreciation for ISAF, she noted that both civilian
casualties and security searches of houses caused great upset
in her community. She appreciated Ambassador Nuland,s
comment that ISAF has taken these concerns into account,
including deciding that only Afghan forces would be
authorized to do searches, but noted that any forced entry of
homes is still perceived as a personal and cultural violation.


5. (C/NF) On the subject of reconciliation, Governor Khalid
stated that only ten percent of the Taliban were hardline
extremists, which controlled the remainder through fear.
Without this fear, he expressed belief that the majority of
Taliban could be dealt with. When the topic of negotiating
with the Taliban arose, the group agreed that further efforts
to engage moderate elements were required. The Governor
admitted to contacts with certain elements, but said that the
hardliners &need to be killed,8 a view that others in the
group also endorsed.


6. (C/NF) In responding to a question from the German PermRep
on counternarcotics, Governor Khalid described how the Afghan
people were the losers in poppy cultivation with the Taliban
manipulated markets and controlled cultivation. Poor farmers
were the losers, not the winners, he stated. He stressed
that it was essential to influence the farmers with
alternative livelihood projects during the planting season.
He noted that Kandahar is leading in overall eradication
efforts even using just local police, and that he was even
more optimistic about the prospects for next year.

THEN DEVELOPMENT


7. (U) Governor Khalid acknowledged the challenge of bringing
economic development and investment to insecure areas, but
expressed appreciation for several USAID programs that are
easing access to markets for agricultural products such as
pomegranates, and noted that he is working to attract
investment to his province. Underlining the importance of
economic development and its relationship to security,
Governor Khalid mentioned that although Kandahar is famous
for its pomegranates, investors shy away because of the
security situation, and Kandahar residents, including the
Governor himself, can only buy juice produced in Iran. Ms.
Sadeet, while citing some progress for women, was very
anxious to see more reconstruction in Farah province, leading
to greater employment. Her chief criticism was directed at
the weakness of the central government and at the widespread
corruption that she stated exists at all levels. Governor
Khalid also cited a lack of coordination among international
institutions and Afghan officials (and within the various
levels of the Afghan government for that matter) as an
obstacle to greater progress. He cited specific examples
such as dam projects that greatly benefited one or two
communities while depriving others villages of water, and of
small enterprise development projects being developed in one
location and the necessary road infrastructure in another.
Better consultations with provincial officials, he argued,
would eliminate some of these &simple mistakes8 and &ten
elders are sometimes better than 100 soldiers8 when it comes
to these decisions.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRES A NON-TRADITONAL APPROACH


8. (C/NF) Governor Khalid cited significant weaknesses in the
Afghan government with respect to media. Using the example
of civilian casualties, he recalled a phone call from
President Karzai inquiring about one operation that occurred
in his province and noted that he was only able to get
information after several days, during which time the
journalists had access only to Taliban sources and false
allegations. Given only two likely sources of information )
the government and the Taliban ) he proposed that each of
the 34 provinces designate one spokesman with consistent

access to the central government, ISAF and international
institutions, who could respond immediately at the provincial
level. Noting that most Afghan leaders do not know how to
talk to their publics, he underscored that training some of
these leaders would enable them to more effectively counter
Taliban misinformation.


9. (C/NF) Ms. Sadeet underscored the importance of ulemas in
spreading good news stories at the local level, and Mr.
Ruhanni offered interesting insight into the role that he and
his fellow scholars and mullahs play in the region,
particularly in bolstering public opinion against the
Taliban. He described two categories of media outlets,
traditional (primarily radio with BBC and VOA being the most
important) and cultural (mosques, shuras, ulemas). He noted
that while the Taliban have a radio station in each town,
there is also a mosque and that ulemas will continue to play
a focal role in communications, even as they have lost many
members due to targeting by hard-core Taliban elements.


10. (C/NF) Governor Khalid understands the public opinion
battle over support to ISAF, particularly in Allied countries
sending troops to Afghanistan, and the need to address
European audiences with sophisticated messages and
on-the-ground realities. He relayed that his interaction
with media in Berlin and Brussels had opened his eyes to the
extent of ignorance in media both about what is truly
happening in Afghanistan, as well as why most of the
countries are there. He emphasized the importance of
explaining to international audiences the dangers of
terrorism to persuade them of the need for a long-term
commitment to the stability of his country. He expressed
frustration with the embedding of western journalists within
ISAF units as he stated they tend to report only the &bad
news8 and focus on the fighting. He urged the U.S. and
others to send journalists to the provinces, and specifically
offered to host media groups in Kandahar. He also expressed
his willingness to do interviews remotely with international
media and to work with USNATO in that regard.

EUROPEAN MEDIA: STRONG DEMAND FOR AFGHAN VOICES


11. (U) The German media in Berlin and the international
media in Brussels were very interested in the opportunity to
hear about the group,s experiences and opinions of the
international effort to bring stability to Afghanistan.
Governor Khalid, a young, engaging leader fluent in English,
and Hangama Sadeet, a strong Afghan woman, were particularly
adept at conveying their messages to the media. Embassy
Berlin held a very well attended press conference for the
two, resulting in coverage in AP and Der Spiegel. Despite
interference from the EU Summit December 14, media in
Brussels were very interested in speaking to Governor Khalid,
who participated in a roundtable for Spanish, French and
Japanese press and gave interviews to BBC World Asia TV and
BBC Radio,s Pashto World Service. In the media events, the
Governor and Ms. Sadeet honestly assessed the security
situation and the challenges faced by their own security
forces as well as the international community, and while
praising the international efforts, made a plea for more
resources across the board. Their words were compelling and
convincing, and dispelled some of the media,s natural
suspicion of the U.S. backing for the trip so that their
messages were fresh and were heard.

CONCLUSION: WE NEED TO DO MORE


12. (U) This program made it very apparent that the Afghan
people themselves are the best advocates for renewed
commitment to peace and security in the area, and should be
given more and greater platforms to speak. By putting an
Afghan face on these increasingly important issues, this
group raised the profile of the mission in Afghanistan with
decision makers and, through the media, the general public in
Berlin and Brussels, and publics in Europe. Because of the
success of this program, achieved through good cooperation
between USNATO and Embassies in Kabul and Berlin, USNATO is
planning three more FY-08 tours of Afghan policy makers to
Brussels and European capitals to influence policy makers and
publics, and to highlight the importance of the mission in
Afghanistan and our commitment to its people. We will also
work with Embassy Kabul, NATO HQ, ISAF and others on

tailoring visits to Afghanistan by European media to better
demonstrate progress and to amplify compelling Afghan voices.
OLSON