UAE PERSPECTIVES ON AFGHAN ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000640


DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, S/SRAP/MBGOODMAN, SCA/P/TSPENCER
ALSO FOR EEB/RACHEL LEATHAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID AF AE
SUBJECT: UAE PERSPECTIVES ON AFGHAN ELECTIONS

REF: A) STATE 63551, B) ABU DHABI 616, C) 08 ABU DHABI 1370

Classified by CDA Douglas Greene, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Assistant Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Tariq
al-Haidan acknowledged ref A points and President Obama's statement
that the USG has no favored candidate in the Afghan elections in a
June 22 meeting, but pressed the Charge to clarify who the U.S. is
really backing. He noted that Iran has expressed support for Karzai
and assumed perhaps Washington and Tehran had an odd confluence of
interests in a Karzai win. The Charge emphasized the USG position as
stated reftel that the Afghan people need to make their own
determination. Al-Haidan again pressed to know our real intent --
adding that Karzai had the upper hand (he is "riding the horse" while
the other candidates are "on foot").


2. (C) Al-Haidan said the UAE planned to reinforce U.S. efforts in
Afghanistan (including through its military commitment there) and
would not interfere in the elections (though he hinted that the
Saudis have a favored candidate or two, and might use their influence
to support them). (Comment: In separate conversation, DATT heard
from the armed forces that the UAE wishes to deploy a battalion sized
light armored infantry force of perhaps 500 Emirati land forces
troops to support the upcoming elections in Afghanistan.
Coordination of this "Task Force 110" will continue in hopes of being
mission capable in early August. End comment.) Regarding a
potentially broader Arab force to bolster the UAE contingent in
Afghanistan, al-Haidan confided that Morocco was "not energetic" on
the idea (does not want to be "too close to NATO") but that
discussions were also underway with Jordan. He was uncertain of the
outcome.

GREENE