HELMAND OPERATIONS RELY ON ESTABLISHING LOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001737 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF SUBJECT: HELMAND OPERATIONS RELY ON ESTABLISHING LOCAL CONNECTIONS Classified By: PRT and Sub-National Governance Director Valerie C. Fowl er for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Civilian-military coordination prior to the start of the July 2 military operations in Helmand has been a key element in the development of a sustainable engagement. While the MEB operations have come on very quickly, the PRT's facilitation of connections between the provincial governor, district and local leaders developed local support for the operations and enabled the rapid deployment of stabilization teams to the area so that development activity can quickly follow the clearing operations underway in Helmand. With this local support, the current operations in Nawa and Kanashin are poised to be successful; the delivery of services will be the largest challenge and will require the full support of the MEB and the PRT. End Summary. Nawa Operations Begin -------------- ¶2. (C) The State PRT and USAID officers, in conjunction with the UK civilians at PRT Lashkar Gah, worked closely with the leadership of Helmand province and the U.S. Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) to prepare for the major operation that began on July 2. In Nawa, one of the key focal points of the operation, the local Afghans have known for some time that the operations would target their district. Nawa is a well developed agricultural area that links Lashkar Gah and Garmsir, and the population was very supportive of the recent clearing operations in Nad Ali and Garmsir. The Right Connections -------------- ¶3. (C) The PRT worked closely with the MEB leadership to put them in touch with most of the Nawa leadership to ensure close connectivity, particularly with the seven largest villages in the area as well as with the District Administrator and the Chief of Police. As a result, the local leadership has a defense plan drawn up that they say will keep insurgents out of their villages for good if the plan is implemented in coordination with the MEB. The local leadership has worked well with the Chief of Police and has asked for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) at the key entry points into Nawa to protect the area from enemy forces' infiltration. This "joint" security effort between the MEB and the ANSF will be critical to protect and build Afghan security capacity. Stabilization -------------- ¶4. (C) The UK has already moved a civilian stabilization officer from Garmsir to Nawa to work closely with the U.S. forces and local leadership. The Stability Advisors have helped prepare a stabilization plan for quick implementation with the help of a civilian affairs team. The Nawa Stabilization Plan was created with the help of the local leadership and focuses on supporting the government's return to the area. The plan itself is modest, but it will help the district administrator get re-established, address key infrastructure needs and requested community projects, and build the capacity of the local administration. Kanashin -------------- ¶5. (C) Operations in Kanashin are also off to a good start and local residents are very supportive of ISAF forces. The PRT worked closely with Governor Mangal and his office to involve many of the key leaders from this area. Kanashin is a remote district center south of Garmsir but it offers an excellent area to interdict enemy forces and supplies coming in from Pakistan. The area has a large Baluch population and several of the key leaders drove up to the Governor's compound in Lashkar Gah several days before the operation commenced to help explain the area to the MEB and PRT leadership. Many of the elders expressed anger at the foreign fighters and want ISAF to push these forces out of the area. As part of the close consultation facilitated by the PRT and the Governor's office, the Kanashin leaders identified the locations of insurgents and ammunition storage sites. Plans for the stabilization effort are underway, and the State PRT officer from PRT Lashkar Gah will participate in this operation. The PRT is discussing timing and substance of insertion of the Stabilization Team into Kanashin. KABUL 00001737 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The MEB operations have come on very quickly but have received good initial support from the local population. Many Helmand residents want the enemy forces out of their areas for good but they also want GIRoA to deliver security and government services. This delivery of services will be the largest challenge and will require the full support of the MEB and the PRT. EIKENBERRY