KAZAKHSTAN: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON KAZAKHSTAN'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001027

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/A

E.O. 12958: 06/15/29
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON AF KG PK RS KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON KAZAKHSTAN'S
ASSISTANCE, MANAS AIR-BASE, AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland, 1.4(b),(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Afghan Ambassador Abdul Haider called on the
Ambassador on June 15. During an hour-long discussion, a relaxed and
well-informed Haider spoke openly in fluent English about three
issues. He expressed gratitude for U.S. and Kazakhstani assistance
to Afghanistan, registered concern about the fate of the Manas
air-base, and provided a frank analysis of Afghanistan's domestic and
regional political situation. END SUMMARY.

CLOSE TO KARZAI


2. (C) Afghan Ambassador Abdul Haider met with the Ambassador on
June 15. Haider previously served as Afghanistan's resident
Ambassador to Poland and non-resident Ambassador to Latvia, Lithuania
and Estonia. (NOTE: He is also married to a Pole. END NOTE.) He
indicated that he is close to Karzai, describing Karzai as a personal
friend, and noting he was previously Karzai's first chief of protocol
in Kabul. Haider reminisced about arranging Karzai's first official
visit to the United States and one of then-Senator Joseph Biden's
visits to Afghanistan. He said he was proud of having been one of
the first officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to return to
Afghanistan from abroad after the fall of the Taliban, along with the
current Afghan ambassadors to Moscow and the United Kingdom. One of
Afghanistan's greatest challenges, Haider argued, has been rebuilding
a government in an environment in which many well-educated Afghans
have not yet come back. (NOTE: Haider's own daughter is working as
a lawyer in the United States. END NOTE.)

PRAISE FOR U.S. AND KAZAKHSTANI GOVERNMENT AID


3. (C) Haider praised the government of Kazakhstan's pledge to
provide $5 million over the next five years to provide university
education to several hundred Kazakhstani students each year.
(COMMENT: In our previous discussions with Kazakhstani officials
about this program, they have not given us any details about the
amount of funding or the number of students. END COMMENT.) "I know
how important education is to the future of a country," Haider
explained, remarking that as Ambassador to Poland, he had secured
scholarships for 18 students. He said that currently, most of
Afghanistan's ministers have returned from abroad, especially from
the United States and Europe. "Maybe for the next generation, it
will be different," he added.


4. (C) Several times, Haider with great emotion thanked the U.S.
government for "setting Afghanistan free." "After so many years of
suffering under the Soviets and then the Taliban, you have given us
back our country. We hope that your soldiers can stay until
stability comes," Haider remarked.


5. (C) The Ambassador noted Kazakhstan is working on developing a
formal foreign assistance program to replace ad-hoc assistance
donations. He explained that Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin had told
him that Afghanistan would be the first country to receive support
from this new assistance program. In response, Haider expressed
thanks to both the U.S. and Kazakhstani governments. He acknowledged
that Kazakhstan has also helped Afghanistan by participating in the
Northern Distribution Network for the shipment of non-lethal supplies
to U.S. troops, and by exporting wheat to Afghanistan.

CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT MANAS


6. (C) Haider raised the issue of U.S. access to Manas air-base,
stating that he had spoken with the Kyrgyz Ambassador to Kazakhstan
to explain how important the base is to Afghanistan's stability.
"Today, I also made arrangements for Karzai to meet Kyrgyz President
Bakiyev this week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in
Yekaterinberg," Haider told the Ambassador. Haider expressed hope
that a solution could be found, but also suggested that "Kyrgyz
authorities may need a little additional financial help, in order to
explain the decision to the people."

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS "OUR NEIGHBOR"


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7. (C) During the Manas discussion, Haider admitted concern about
"not knowing what Russia's reaction would be if Bakiyev allowed the
United States to retain the base." The Ambassador responded that
while it is difficult to predict Russia's reaction, Russia certainly
understands the importance of stability in Afghanistan. Haider
acknowledged the Ambassador's point, and said that, in the interest
of frank discussion, he could not speak like a diplomat.
"Afghanistan's greatest enemy," Haider said, "was never the Soviets.
The most destabilizing force in the region is 'our neighbor'" -- a
clear reference to Pakistan.

A FEW GOOD MEN


8. (C) Haider also commented frankly and openly on the political
situation in Afghanistan in the run-up to the elections. He
predicted a "close contest among three strong candidates." Haider
admitted that he "is Karzai's man," but also said he has great
respect for the two strongest opposition candidates, Dr. Abdullah
Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, both of whom he knows well. In
response to the Ambassador's question about whether Abdullah could
unite the country, Haider said, "He is well-educated, and he is the
only one with a very clean record." He also pointed out that
Abdullah, who is usually identified with the Afghan Tajiks, speaks
Pashtu fluently and that Abdullah's father is from Kandahar,
"therefore he has a very strong support base in Kandahar and among
Pashtuns." Haider, who said that he had personally worked with
Abdullah, continued to praise him, saying "he is the only one who
does not want to bring his friends and his family into power, instead
he looks at a person's education and skills."

HOAGLAND