NATO ENGAGES IN NEW FORUM ON AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000380 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018 TAGS: MARR NATO PGOV PREL AF KZ KG TI TX UZ SUBJECT: NATO ENGAGES IN NEW FORUM ON AFGHANISTAN Classified By: CDA W. S. Reid, III, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In an effort to facilitate increased regional dialogue on Afghanistan, Secretary General (SYG) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer presided over the first meeting of NATO Permanent Representatives with the NATO representatives from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The invited partner nations used the forum to reinforce the need for social and economic development in Afghanistan, while Allies used the forum to press for implementation of draft transit agreements. The Political Committee was tasked to develop a workplan for increased cooperation within the forum. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On October 13, NATO PermReps met with their colleagues from Central Asia and Afghanistan as part of a process designed to build greater transparency and enhance the flow of information between NATO, Afghanistan, and Afghanistan's neighbors. NATO SYG Jaap de Hoop Scheffer reaffirmed NATO's commitment to Afghanistan, reporting on relevant items from the October 9-10 Budapest Defense Ministerial. The Afghanistan representative argued that large parts of his country were now safe and that the army was increasing its role in fighting terrorists. At the same time, he acknowledged that more must be done to stop the flow of funds to drug traffickers. He said that the Central Asian nations play a vital role in the stability of Afghanistan and thanked Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for the use of their air base to support ISAF. The Kazakhstan representative highlighted his nation's role in facilitating ISAF assistance by granting overflight licenses to 6,000 NATO aircraft, including emergency landing clearances to 80 aircraft. He also announced a proposal to send staff officers and possibly a medical unit to ISAF and commented that Kazakhstan hoped that the draft transit agreement with NATO could be finalized soon. -------------- --- Building a Land Bridge between Asia and the West -------------- --- ¶3. (C) The Afghanistan representative pointed out that in 2001 Afghanistan was isolated from its Central Asian neighbors; its only bridge across an international border was walled off by concrete. He said that since the overthrow of the Taliban, however, thousands of kilometers of new roads linking Kabul to the provinces and beyond have been built, including five bridges to Tajikistan, and one bridge to Uzbekistan. He also pointed out that the Ring Road is now almost complete. The Tajikistan representative thanked the United States for its assistance in constructing the bridges between his country and Afghanistan, but made a veiled comment that the "Afghan side is not helping" (Note: he did not elaborate on this comment. End Note.) The Uzbekistan representative reported that his country offers Afghanistan construction materials and is working to build the road from Mazar-e-Sharif to Kabul. He also stated that Uzbekistan is working with the UN to ensure the flow of cargo from international donors to Afghanistan. Turkmenistan added that it had invested USD 550,000 in constructing railroad lines in Afghanistan and extending links to neighboring countries. The Afghanistan representative said that these infrastructure improvements have resulted in an average decrease of 32 hours of travel time to transit the country, helping Afghanistan realize its goal of being a "land bridge" between Central Asia, South Asia and the West. -------------- -------------- The Economy, Energy and Education - Recurring Themes -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The representative from Tajikistan argued that an absence of economic gains flowing from the government to the people contributed to the lack of stability in the region. The Uzbekistan representative echoed these comments, adding that critical social and economic factors must be addressed and the quality of life must be improved for the region to stabilize. He informed the Council that Uzbekistan is offering foodstuffs to Afghanistan. The Kazakhstani representative reported that Astana has provided humanitarian aid totaling USD 3 million to Afghanistan in 2008. ¶5. (C) The Afghanistan representative admitted that his country still lacks the energy resources it needs, adding that its demand is expected to increase threefold in the next 15 to 20 years. He thanked Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan in securing energy transfer agreements and announced the construction of a gas pipeline by 2010. The Tajikistan representative noted Dushanbe is currently transferring 2 million kilowatt hours of energy to Afghanistan. The representative from Turkmenistan reported that Ashgabat is providing Afghanistan with electric power and liquid gas at reduced prices, working to reconstruct the electricity grid in Herat province (where many ethnic Turkmen live),and working with India to construct a new pipeline. ¶6. (C) The Tajikistan representative stated that an "enlightenment of the people" of Afghanistan would also help build stability in Afghanistan. To this end, Tajikistan is hosting 500 Afghan students in its universities and 1,500 primary and secondary students in its schools. Kazakhstan reported that it offered scholarships to 1,000 Afghan students to study in Kazakhstani universities. Turkmenistan is offering grants to Afghan students to its country's universities, as well as providing school supplies for children. He also added that his country is offering free medical aid to Afghan citizens living near the Turkmenistan border. The Kyrgyzstan representative, recalling that before 2001 Afghan children did not have the opportunity to learn about technology or languages, commented on the "human dimension" of Afghanistan's reconstruction. At the same time, he cautioned that international aid is not always aligned with the priorities of building new schools or job creation. He also stated that 4 million Afghan citizens who fled to Pakistan are returning to their home country -- despite better economic opportunities they might have in Pakistan -- because of their unflagging faith in their homeland. ¶7. (C) On the diplomatic front, the Afghanistan representative reported that Kabul is making regional political and economic cooperation a priority. The Uzbekistan representative referred to President Karimov's speech at the Bucharest Summit, where he proposed re-energizing the old "6-plus-2" format for discussion of Afghanistan by adding NATO to make it a "6-plus-3" forum. Turkmenistan, which said it wanted to be known as a peacemaker in the region, reported that President Berdimuhammedov had met with Afghan President Karzai four times. Kyrgyzstan mentioned it hosted the SCO conference in June, at which Afghanistan was discussed. In response to questions from Canada, Afghanistan's representative said that it is receiving more assistance from India than from China, with whom it shares a small border, and that the new administration in Pakistan reflects that the Pakistanis are more sincere in wanting to fight terrorists. -------------- NATO: Where do we go from here? -------------- ¶8. (C) Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee Lieutenant General Eikenberry thanked the Central Asian nations for their contributions and forecasted big improvements from the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in the coming years. Poland announced a contribution of 50,000 euros to the Post-Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund and the development with the U.S. of a PRT in Ghazni province. Croatia announced that it was considering contributing an OMLT to the ISAF effort in Afghanistan. ¶9. (C) Allies applauded the assistance the Central Asian countries are providing, but asked for more concrete proposals for what NATO can do to help. Germany reminded the countries that NATO was not in "the development business." The U.S., Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain called on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to implement the draft ground transit agreements as soon as possible, with U.S. Ambassador Volker additionally stressing the need for flexible agreements. Poland added that it is sometimes difficult to satisfy the requirement of a one-week notice for overflight licenses. The U.S., Turkey and Germany reinforced the need for better border management and policing of narco-traffickers and organized crime. Romania asked the SYG to task the Political Committee to develop a workplan for future cooperation within this new format. REID