NIMROZ GOVERNOR SEEKS PRT AND A VISIT BY AMBASSADOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001871

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SRAP HOLBROOKE, SCA/FO, SCA/A
STATE PASS USAID FOR SCAA/ASIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: NIMROZ GOVERNOR SEEKS PRT AND A VISIT BY AMBASSADOR


1. (SBU) Summary: During a courtesy call, Governor Ghulam
Dastagir Azad and Ambassador Eikenberry discussed possible
political implications and logistical requirements of a
possible visit to Nimroz and the Governor's desire for a PRT
in order to bring more reconstruction assistance. Later that
week, PRT Counselor, ISAF POLAD, and ISAF Stabilization Rear
Admiral Borsbum met with IDLG Deputy Barna Karimi and
Governor Azad to discuss the Governor's interest in a
possible PRT and the security and political implications of
the recent move of Delaram district from Farah back to
Nimroz. End Summary.


2. (SBU) When queried on Iranian President Ahmadinejad's
possible reaction to a visit by the Ambassador to Nimroz,
Azad replied that Afghanistan is a sovereign country and that
he would be a good host. The Ambassador agreed, and affirmed
the Secretary of Defense's commitment to be supportive of an
eventual PRT in Nimroz, probably ONE led by a non-U.S.
ISAF/NATO partner. The Ambassador underscored that, while a
non-U.S. led PRT might more pragmatic given the 223 km
Iranian border with Nimroz, we consider Afghanistan a
sovereign country and as such we base our actions on
Afghanistan's preferences, not those of its neighbors.


3. (SBU) Azad offered an overview of Nimroz, but prefaced it
by saying that the Iranian people oppose Ahmadinejad and that
any accusations of intervention by the U.S. and the United
Kingdom is simply an attempt by his government to survive and
place culpability on the West. Azad said only 100 km of the
212 km border with Pakistan is secured by Afghan Border
Police (ABP). There is no ABP presence on the remaining
length of the Pakistan border and the entire length of the
Iranian border. Azad said that bad security in neighboring
Helmand and Farah provinces affect Nimroz.


4. (U) The Governor enumerated four major problems in his
province: Taliban, al-Qaida, narcotics traffickers from
Helmand transiting through Nimroz, and the presence of
Iranian and Pakistani intelligence officers. He said the
people of Nimroz people support the government, which
improves security. The only exception, he said, is Khasharod
district, which is a safehaven for insurgents who are not
welcomed in other districts of the province. According to
Azad, the Khasharod people are mainly from the Noorzai tribe,
which has traditionally been supportive of the Taliban.
Khasharod is also the only poppy-producing district. Nimroz
is 99 percent Sunni and ONE percent Shia, which is comprised
mostly of Hazara refugees returning from Iran. Azad also
described a long history of fighting against Arabs going back
more than 1200 years.


5. (SBU) Azad lamented that only Nimroz and Dai Kundi (in
central Afghanistan) are not supported by PRTs.
Additionally, although there are some non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in Nimroz, Azad said there is little
reconstruction being done in Nimroz, and even Iran had turned
its focus to Herat after building some roads and electrical
generators and a customs building in Nimroz four years ago.
Azad added that Iran no longer helps Nimroz, but rather
interferes by sending books with propaganda. When pressed,
Azad admitted that he had not talked to any other country
about opening a PRT in Nimroz. He noted that it appears to
Afghans that the worse the security, the more assistance a
province receives, citing Helmand, which is receiving
millions of dollars. He said the people of Nimroz see this
on television or hear it on the radio and wonder what they
did wrong. The Ambassador acknowledged this was a problem.


6. (U) Azad offered possible points of economic potential in
Nimroz. First, he said the Kamalhan Dam should be completed,
only 47 percent was completed during the Soviet occupation.
He also described the province as agriculturally rich, but
hampered by a lack of water and developed irrigation systems.
He said many people complain that the United States and the
International Community are ignoring Nimroz, and they believe
that conditions will improve when a PRT brings assistance and
reconstruction money for the province. The big difference
between Nimroz and other provinces, according to Azad, is a
high level of education. Without offering concrete data, he
said that there are schools for girls and boys alike, and
that women sometimes drive. He characterized the people of
the province as supportive of democracy and stability. For
this reason, he said, the province is perfect for
reconstruction and development.


7. (SBU) The Ambassador promised to consider a trip to
Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz, after the elections. Azad
enumerated several possible ways to there. The landing strip

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there can support both fixed wing and rotary craft, and is
only about 10 minutes from the Governor's compound. The
Afghan commercial airline Pamir flies to Zaranj from Kabul
twice per week. The road from Deleram - newly paved by the
Indians - requires a two hour drive, while the ride 190 km
ride from Farah city to Zaranj is about five hours by car on
the unpaved road. The Ambassador suggested that we might look
for opportunities for historical restoration projects in the
province using the Ambassador's Fund.


8. (SBU) During a meeting later the same week between
Governor Azad, Deputy IDLG Director Barna Karimi, PRT
Counselor, ISAF Stabilization Chief Rear Admiral Borsboom,
and ISAF POLAD, the Governor requested a PRT. He said that
if the close proximity of Zaranj to Iran proved too
political, he would recommend placing a PRT in Khasharod,
pointing out it has existing infrastructure, electricity, and
is only an hour from the capital on the paved road. Azad
expressed his expectation that security in Khasharod and
Delaram would improve with a PRT, as would reconstruction
funding. Azad said development and reconstruction assistance
for the province would be needed for housing, employment,
education and HEALTH for refugees flowing in from Iran. He
also reiterated that completion of the Kamalhan Dam and
development of canals would be a priority for Nimroz
citizens. Borsboom emphasized that the first step into
Nimroz for the coalition will be the biggest step, and
suggested that a minimum amount of security - either ANA or
ISAF - would be required before a PRT could be created. Azad
noted that in a meeting earlier that week, Minister of
Defense Wardak had promised an ANA kandak for Nimroz (there
is no ANA presence in the province currently),but had not
given a timeline. Borsboom suggested that the creation of a
PRT should be connected to MOD plans for the first kandak,
and that aligning the entities would build mass and momentum
for the first step into Nimroz.


9. (SBU) RADM Borsboom told Azad that the RC-South Commander
would like to meet to discuss elections and development
issues that arose as a result of the June transfer of Delaram
district from Farah Province (in RC-West) to Nimroz. Azad
responded that since Delaram had been part of Nimroz during
the last election, those who voted previously hold
registration cards saying "Nimroz," and the IEC has made
arrangements for new registrants to vote for the presidential
and provincial council candidates in Nimroz. He expressed
confidence that no new registrants would be disenfranchised
by their registration in Farah. Azad reported that
campaigning in the province has started, and that there are
31 candidates (including five women) competing for nine
provincial council seats.


10. (SBU) The POLAD noted that a meeting between Azad and the
RC-South Commander could help bring Nimroz into the broader
stability strategy for Afghanistan as a whole. Borsboom
acknowledged that the administrative transfer of Delaram from
Farah complicates planned Commander's Emergency Response
Program (CERP) projects, and stressed that creativity would
be necessary. Barna Karimi agreed to coordinate first steps
in Kabul.


11. (U) Biographical note: Azad reported that he graduated
from the medical faculty in Nimroz University in 1987 (1356)
and became a refugee only three years later. He worked for
many years as a doctor for UNHCR. He has been the Governor
of Nimroz for five years.
EIKENBERRY