AMBASSADOR AND COS DAUDZAI DISCUSS KARZAI'S GOALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001465

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MOPS AF
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND COS DAUDZAI DISCUSS KARZAI'S GOALS
AND CLOSER COOPERATION WITH PALACE

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


1. (C) Summary. At their May 27 meeting, Mohammed Umer
Daudzai, President Karzai's Chief of Staff, agreed to the
Ambassador's suggestion to establish a weekly meeting between
President Karzai and the Ambassador. Daudzai confirmed Karzai
was confident of re-election and the latter was turning his
focus to improving government performance. Both agreed on the
importance of timely coordination between Afghan authorities
and coalition forces following civilian casualties incidents.


2. (C) On the issue of a one-on-one meeting, Daudzai agreed
such meetings would promote closer communication and allow
better follow up on issues of shared concern. Daudzai
recognized the Ambassador and Karzai already met often, but
agreed a standardized, one-on-one weekly meeting could
improve coordination between the Embassy and the Palace.

KARZAI LOOKING PAST THE ELECTION TO GOALS FOR NEXT TERM


3. (C) Daudzai confirmed Karzai was privately confident of
re-election and was beginning to focus on his strategy for
the next five years. Karzai hoped to focus on building
administrative capacity in government in his second term.
Daudzai pointed to some progress at the provincial level, but
the lack of capacity at the district level continued to pose
serious obstacles in delivery of basic services. However,
Daudzai added that the Afghan government and international
community were correct to focus first on security in more
troubled areas, introducing the necessary stability for
development and capacity building.


4. (C) The Ambassador agreed there had been significant
development progress in Afghanistan over recent years, and
that a basic level of security was necessary for building up
the public and private institutions in a community.
Referring to his recent visit to Kunar, the Ambassador noted
the burst of development that had taken place since his first
visit in 2002, observing neither the development nor the
improvements in local governance would have been possible
without corresponding improvements in security.

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION ON MILITARY-RELATED INCIDENTS
INVOLVING CIVILIANS


5. (C) The Ambassador and Daudzai agreed on the importance of
timely, accurate communication between the Afghan government
and Coalition and U.S. Forces when military operations led to
alleged civilian casualties. Both sides require real-time
accurate and detailed information to respond quickly and
accurately to media inquiries and public concerns. Daudzai
noted there was a small 24-hour operations center in the
Palace, saying this was an excellent coordination point for
breaking information. Daudzai agreed with the Ambassador
that it was important to be able to get the facts out
accurately as soon as possible to pre-empt the enemy's
inevitable information campaign.

AMBASSADOR CALLS ON KARZAI TO DRAW ATTENTION TO ACHIEVEMENTS
OF SECURITY FORCES


6. (C) The Ambassador acknowledged the problems civilian
casualties presented to the Afghan leadership and outlined
ongoing U.S. and Coalition efforts to minimize the impact of
military operations on civilians. However, he also noted the
American people and the U.S. military had made a long-term
commitment to Afghanistan's stability and he called on Karzai
and his government to draw a clear, public distinction
between the operations of Coalition and Afghan security
forces aimed at protecting the Afghan people and the actions
of the militants who deliberately targeted civilians and
community infrastructure.


7. (C) The Ambassador referred to a recent operation in Khost
in which Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and Coalition
Forces successfully fought together to thwart 11 suicide
bombers. The Ambassador suggested that, in the future,
Karzai should travel to the site of such incidents not just
to offer condolences, but to praise Afghan forces and
highlight successful cooperation between ANSF and Coalition
Forces. Daudzai agreed this would be a positive step and
indicated Karzai was prepared to make such trips in the
future.
EIKENBERRY