Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO369
2009-03-31 11:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY: SRI LANKA OFFERS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0369 0901157 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 311157Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9712 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8498 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1406 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2859 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0012 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1053 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000369
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO PK AF CE
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY: SRI LANKA OFFERS
POSSIBLE TRAINING ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 29482
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000369
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO PK AF CE
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY: SRI LANKA OFFERS
POSSIBLE TRAINING ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 29482
1. (SBU) Ambassador briefed Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona
on the conclusions of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic
Review on March 31. Kohona expressed appreciation for the
detailed readout. With respect to how Sri Lanka might help,
Kohona offered two thoughts. First, he noted that
Afghanistan already had asked whether Sri Lanka might send
education and health professionals to help train and build
Afghan capacity in these areas. Sri Lanka has achieved some
of the South Asian region's highest indicators in education
and health. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka made a
priority of rebuilding schools and hospitals after the LTTE
was expelled by the military from eastern Sri Lanka. Kohona
said Sri Lanka has signaled its readiness to help, but
neither Afghanistan nor Sri Lanka have funding. If the US or
other donors have funding, Sri Lanka would be ready to help.
2. (SBU) Recalling that President Rajapaksa had earlier
indicated that Sri Lanka might be prepared to provide troops
or trainers to Afghanistan as military operations against the
LTTE wind down, Ambassador asked if the GSL was ready toQnsider providing forces in Afghanistan. Kohona said he
thought Sri Lanka would be prepared to provide small numbers
(e.g. 10-20 people) of military trainers to help build Afghan
army capacity, if that would be useful. He pointed out that
the Sri Lankan Army has 25 years of experience fighting the
LTTE and countering the LTTE's constantly changing terrorist
and insurgency tactics. Such experience might well be useful
in Afghanistan. Recalling that Sri Lanka already has a
peacekeeping battalion serving in the UN peacekeeping
operation in Haiti, he speculated that Sri Lanka would likely
be prepared to send more significant military forces in about
one year, as operations against the LTTE continue to
diminish.
3. (SBU) Embassy would be pleased to pursue either of these
options if Department judges they could be useful. Please
advise.
BLAKE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO PK AF CE
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY: SRI LANKA OFFERS
POSSIBLE TRAINING ASSISTANCE
REF: STATE 29482
1. (SBU) Ambassador briefed Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona
on the conclusions of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategic
Review on March 31. Kohona expressed appreciation for the
detailed readout. With respect to how Sri Lanka might help,
Kohona offered two thoughts. First, he noted that
Afghanistan already had asked whether Sri Lanka might send
education and health professionals to help train and build
Afghan capacity in these areas. Sri Lanka has achieved some
of the South Asian region's highest indicators in education
and health. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka made a
priority of rebuilding schools and hospitals after the LTTE
was expelled by the military from eastern Sri Lanka. Kohona
said Sri Lanka has signaled its readiness to help, but
neither Afghanistan nor Sri Lanka have funding. If the US or
other donors have funding, Sri Lanka would be ready to help.
2. (SBU) Recalling that President Rajapaksa had earlier
indicated that Sri Lanka might be prepared to provide troops
or trainers to Afghanistan as military operations against the
LTTE wind down, Ambassador asked if the GSL was ready toQnsider providing forces in Afghanistan. Kohona said he
thought Sri Lanka would be prepared to provide small numbers
(e.g. 10-20 people) of military trainers to help build Afghan
army capacity, if that would be useful. He pointed out that
the Sri Lankan Army has 25 years of experience fighting the
LTTE and countering the LTTE's constantly changing terrorist
and insurgency tactics. Such experience might well be useful
in Afghanistan. Recalling that Sri Lanka already has a
peacekeeping battalion serving in the UN peacekeeping
operation in Haiti, he speculated that Sri Lanka would likely
be prepared to send more significant military forces in about
one year, as operations against the LTTE continue to
diminish.
3. (SBU) Embassy would be pleased to pursue either of these
options if Department judges they could be useful. Please
advise.
BLAKE