AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN -- INDONESIA WELCOMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000564 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, SCA, SCA/A (T.REOTT) NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2019 TAGS: PREL MARR EAID ID AF PK SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN -- INDONESIA WELCOMES STRATEGIC REVIEW REF: STATE 29482 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesia welcomes a new U.S. approach on Afghanistan and Pakistan and will review carefully President Obama's new strategy. GOI officials remain concerned about possible civilian casualties that might result from increased military operations but applaud the United States' emphasis on development and diplomacy. Indonesia will review whether it might offer any assistance to the Afghan government. END SUMMARY. REVIEWING USG POINTS ¶2. (C) Indonesia welcomes the USG's review of Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. On March 30, POLOFF delivered reftel points and nonpaper regarding the strategy review to Cicilia Rusdiharini, Deputy Director for American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). He underscored that al-Qaeda's ability to plan terrorist operations from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region is a threat to the entire world. President Obama's new strategy combined military, diplomatic and development dimensions to address this challenge. Special Envoy Holbrooke had already begun the diplomatic initiative. The United States aimed to build the capacity of Afghan and Pakistan security forces so they could take primary responsibility for security in the region. ¶3. (C) POLOFF also stressed that the United States was committed to working with a wide range of international partners on this matter. Our strategic review was based on extensive consultations with Afghan and Pakistani leaders, NATO allies and partners, and other states in the region. The United States would work with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to meet development challenges there. We encouraged Indonesia, as a leading democracy in the Muslim world, to look for ways to assist the Afghan government in meeting these challenges. INDONESIA POSITIVE ¶4. (C) Rusdiharini said Indonesia welcomed the USG's review of policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan. She promised that Indonesian officials would carefully review reftel White Paper outlining those policy changes. She said Indonesian officials remained concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, particularly the danger of additional civilian casualties that might result from increased military activity. POLOFF replied that the United States took all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties--something that could not be said of al-Qaeda and other extremist groups. GOI TO REVIEW HOW IT CAN HELP ¶5. (C) Rusdiharini said Indonesia welcomed the USG's emphasis on development and diplomacy in dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indonesia would review whether it might offer any assistance to the Afghan government. HEFFERN