KARZAI'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN PLAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001298

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR THE SECRETARY, SECDEF GATES, NSA JONES, SRAP
HOLBROOKE AND CJCS MUULEN FROM AMBASSADOR EIKENBERRT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF
SUBJECT: KARZAI'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN PLAN

Classified By: Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) I met with Jelani Popal, the Director General of the
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (ILDG) and the
discussion confirmed my view that governance remains a
linchpin of our success in Afghanistan. Popal was
particularly focused on weakness in district level
governance, where he said the failure of the Afghan
government to follow through and hold people accountable has
allowed the Taliban, which does follow through on its
statements even if brutally, to hold greater sway in more
conflicted districts.


2. (C) Popal asked me about the status of U.S. funding of
the Afghan Social Outreach Program (ASOP). I told Popal that
we are expeditiously assessing the program, but then asked
him how he sees this program fitting into the Karzai
Administration's broader governance strategy. I noted to
Popal that his ideas are innovative and clear, but questioned
whether the Karzai Administration had articulated a political
agenda for the election that fully embraces these ideas and
pressed him on what the Karzai Administration stands for.
Not unexpectedly, Popal had no clear answers. He said the
Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS) is a good road
map and strategy, but admitted that there had not yet been a
clear message from President Karzai. Unprompted, he said the
only candidate with a clearly articulated vision is Ashraf
Ghani.


3. (C) I emphasized to Popal the importance of President
Karzai embracing publicly an integrated government strategy
on the future of Afghanistan, including programs like the
ASOP. I noted that a government looking for a new term needs
to be projecting a positive agenda and vision for the future
of Afghanistan. I also emphasized our caution in making
funding decisions uniquely tied to this Administration
uninformed by coherent long-term strategy and ascribed
commitments.


4. (C) My meeting with Popal followed a discussion earlier
in the day with National Security Advisor Zalmay Rassoud in
which I pressed him on the status of Karzai's campaign plan.
He said there is nothing announced yet, but they are working
on a draft plan that would be rolled at when the official
campaign season begins in June. I found it striking, though
not surprising, that Popal showed no evidence of being part
of the development of Karzai's political agenda despite his
being the lead official on governance and one of Karzai's top
election advisors.
EIKENBERRY