NEW KHOST GOVERNOR OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR HIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000158 SIPDIS KABUL FOR USFOR-A COS, DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR WILKES CG CJTF-101 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2014 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PINR PREL AF SUBJECT: NEW KHOST GOVERNOR OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR HIS TENURE Classified By: PRT Director Valerie C. Fowler for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a January 14 courtesy call by PRT and maneuver battalion representatives, new Khost Governor Hamidullah Qalandarzai outlined his priorities for the province: improved security (including better coordination among coalition forces (CF),Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF),and local Afghan citizens); development and reconstruction (with an emphasis on job creation, meeting peoples, micro-level needs, and agriculture); and improved management of government services. He stressed that his focus would be on outputs and impacts, noting that we would see evidence of our success in the people. Initial impressions suggest Qalandarzai will bring a thoughtful, technocratic approach to his new duties. End Summary. IMPROVED SECURITY COORDINATION WITH AFGHANS IS NECESSARY -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Qalandarzai said that the border and southern provinces of Afghanistan faced similar challenges. He stressed the overall importance of security and his plans to continue to coordinate with CF. He is interested in improving security operations by working toward greater joint decision-making with local Afghans. By working with and through the ANSF, we will be better able to secure the approval or support of the Afghan people with regard to security operations. He plans to seek local input by holding shuras in each district, soliciting advice on how to improve security operations. For example, as night operations remain controversial and highly unpopular, he would like the people to suggest an acceptable, effective alternative. Qalandarzai pointed out that, as Afghan government and coalition efforts are in support of the Afghan people, we should be open to their ideas, assuming they are not in conflict with CF rules/regulations or international law. . DEVELOPMENT MUST MEET PEOPLES' NEEDS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The governor emphasized the importance of generating employment for Afghans through development and reconstruction efforts. He stated that "enough progress" had been made in development writ large (although at the conclusion of the meeting, he remarked that more needed to be done in agriculture). In his first speech, he thanked former Khost Governor Arsala Jamal, the PRT, ISAF, and others for their efforts; however, he noted that the micro-level needs of the people still needed to be met. He asserted that, in responding to people's needs, especially at the district and village levels, we must link our efforts to their requests to make it clear that the government is responsive, thus narrowing the gap between the people and the government. ¶4. (SBU) The governor remarked that just as the coalition was staffed with professionals, so too were there professionals within the line ministries. Collectively, we needed to ensure that projects met the requirements in the statements of work and were of high quality. He expressed concern about multiple levels of sub-contracting, arguing this contributed to the problem of poor quality, though he added that sub-contracting on larger projects was acceptable as it helped create more jobs. AFGHANS MUST IMPROVE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Qalandarzai noted that "some of the people in the tribal areas are not Taliban; however, they are not happy with us," because of the government's poor delivery of services. He cited the lengthy process to obtain a taskera (national identification card). He argued that the process should be faster and that the problem was not a question of resources or the need for coalition assistance, but rather a need for Afghans themselves to improve government services. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) In this initial meeting in Khost and a separate January 5 meeting DOS PRT Officer attended with Qalandarzai KABUL 00000158 002 OF 002 in Kabul, the new governor came across as thoughtful and conscientious, with a nuanced understanding of the key security, governance, and development issues he faces in Khost. His strong, technocratic background in development is evident. Qalandarzai's recognition that his efforts would need to encompass not only enhanced cooperation with CF, but also improved performance on the part of his own provincial officials suggests he understands his role must encompass effective administration, including addressing corruption, mediation, and reconciliation. Whether his leadership style will echo the charisma of former Governor Jamal remains an open question. However, given the growing vacuum in provincial leadership, Qalandarzai's arrival is welcome. He faces several challenges, including an ongoing kinetic and non-kinetic campaign by insurgents that has seen little pause this winter, a number of poorly performing sub-governors and line directors, and impending national elections. We expect him to be given ample opportunity to demonstrate his mettle in the frontline province of Khost. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION -------------- ¶7. (C) Hamidullah Qalandarzai was born in 1966 and raised in Sorkh Rud District, Nangarhar Province. He is a member of the Sleiman Khel sub-tribe. He attended Nangarhar University during the Soviet occupation, graduating with a civil engineering degree. He spent three years as an assistant lecturer at Nangarhar University before working in the development field for a variety of NGOs, including the Afghan Development Association, as a technical advisor. He worked with the Mazar-e-Milli party (under the leadership of Peer Syed Ahmed Gailani) while he was in Pakistan. He claimed he has worked in 22 provinces and 126 districts throughout Afghanistan, primarily in the south and west, including Herat, Farah, Uruzgan, Kandahar, and Helmand. He also spent some time as a regional director in Mazar-e-Sharif. He has experience with micro-hydro power, roads, schools, clinics, education, and agriculture (he highlighted his experience with former agriculture minister Dr. Abdul Wakil as particularly beneficial in this regard). Qalandarzai is experienced at working with local populations and promoting community development. ¶8. (C) He is a member of the Afghan Millat Party, a moderate Islamic Pashtun nationalist party led by Finance Mininster Ahadi. He has two brothers who also are involved with the Afghan government (it is unknown how many siblings he has). One brother, Amrullah Qalandarzai, was recently appointed head of customs in Khost City, and another brother, Murtaza Qalandarzai, is the Deputy Governor of Laghman Province. ¶9. (C) Qalandarzai speaks and understands some English (estimated at a low intermediate level -- he comprehends more than his spoken English suggests),but is clearly more comfortable in either Pashto or Dari, both in expressing his thoughts and in ensuring he has understood what was said in English. DOS PRT Officer observed that he takes notes in Pashto with some words or phrases written in English. ¶10. (U) This cable has been reviewed by the PRT Commander and Task Force Glory. WOOD