UAE OFFERS S/SRAP HOLBROOKE MORE AFGHANISTAN DELIVERABLES

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000348 NOFORN SIPDIS FOR S AND S/SRAP HOLBROOKE DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP AND SCA E.O. 12958: 03/24/2019 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL PARM MOPS AF PK AE SUBJECT: UAE OFFERS S/SRAP HOLBROOKE MORE AFGHANISTAN DELIVERABLES CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD G. OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D. ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: During a March 24 meeting with Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ) offered additional UAEG support for Afghanistan. MbZ said the UAE was working to create an Arab military force for Afghanistan that would include Jordanian, Tunisian and Moroccan troops. He stressed the need for confidentiality and better cooperation and information sharing on US efforts in Afghanistan. AbZ said he would consider how the UAEG could offer additional educational and economic support. (Other topics reported septel.) End Summary. ARAB FORCE -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) MbZ began by telling Amb. Holbrooke that a primary challenge in Afghanistan is changing Arab public opinion. To this end, the UAE, which has had troops on the ground in Afghanistan for five years, is seeking other Arab contributors. MbZ said Arab and Muslim engagement in Afghanistan -- both military and humanitarian -- is crucial, as Arabs and Muslims can reach audiences unreceptive to Western efforts. To that end, the UAE has launched a two-pronged approach to 1) guarantee Jordan will join the UAE in Afghanistan and 2) add Morocco and Tunisia. MbZ suggested the UAEG would approach the three countries, convince them to join, then ask the United States to reinforce the UAE proposal. He asked us not - repeat not - to discuss publicly or with other governments. COORDINATION ESSENTIAL -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) MbZ told Amb. Holbrooke that additional US-UAE coordination on Afghanistan is key. "Knowing how long we will stay and what we will do" will help us all achieve a better result. As an example, MbZ noted that military logistics required significant planning and coordination. The Foreign Minister added that Afghanistan and Pakistan had both urged the UAE to appoint a special representative for the region to coordinate such efforts. MbZ said they were considering the suggestion. AFGHAN ELECTIONS -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) In a follow-on meeting with Amb. Holbrooke, FM AbZ said the UAE has good relations with President Karzai, but does not think his reelection is in Afghanistan's best interest. AbZ noted that the President must be Pashtun, which would eliminate Abdullah Abdullah, despite his claims to be Pashtun. AbZ added that he did not expect Zalmay Khalilzad to run. EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) AbZ said the UAE would also consider how it could contribute to efforts to improve educational access in Afghanistan, particularly to provide moderate religious education. AbZ offered to send experts to Washington to discuss how the UAE might best support such an effort. AbZ added that the UAE may offer more economic assistance for Afghanistan after the August elections. (Note: The UAE has provided extensive economic assistance to Afghanistan, but specifically declined a USG request that it financially support elections. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Holbrooke has cleared this message. OLSON