Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL2713
2009-09-07 11:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
KARZAI'S RESPONSE TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RENEWS
how-toVZCZCXRO9840 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBUL #2713 2501115 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071115Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1350 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002713
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: KARZAI'S RESPONSE TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RENEWS
TENSIONS
Classified By: PolCouns Annie Pforzheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002713
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: KARZAI'S RESPONSE TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RENEWS
TENSIONS
Classified By: PolCouns Annie Pforzheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) An airstrike in Kunduz province provoked a new
round of criticism from President Karzai against
international forces. Stating that he was "deeply saddened"
by the event and that "targeting civilian men and women is
not acceptable," President Karzai's comments were the latest
in a series of condemnations of International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) bombings he has issued over the past
months. The attack, which the governor of Kunduz claimed has
killed ninety people, was a targeted bombing aimed at Taliban
insurgents who had hijacked two oil tankers. President
Karzai called for a full and complete investigation into the
incident and has dispatched a team to the site.
2. (C) After similar attacks in the past, President Karzai
has issued strong statements blasting ISAF for killing
innocent civilians. While his comments on the incident in
Kunduz, in a slight departure from previous statements, did
not mention international forces by name, the implication was
that ISAF continues to target civilians in their operations
in Afghanistan. ISAF immediately sent investigators to
Kunduz, but President Karzai called for his own investigation
the day after the event and there appears to be no
communication or coordination between his team and the ISAF
team. Similarly, our advisor to the Government Media and
Information Center (GMIC) reports that there was no message
coordination between ISAF and the GMIC before the two bodies
issued their statements on the event.
3. (C) Comment: This incident comes at a sensitive time for
relations between the Karzai administration and the
international community due to the lack of resolution on the
election results and questions about the possibility of a
second round of voting. As the ISAF and Afghan investigations
of the event go forward, this incident could become a
rallying point for Afghans to step up criticism of the
international presence.
EIKENBERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: KARZAI'S RESPONSE TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RENEWS
TENSIONS
Classified By: PolCouns Annie Pforzheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) An airstrike in Kunduz province provoked a new
round of criticism from President Karzai against
international forces. Stating that he was "deeply saddened"
by the event and that "targeting civilian men and women is
not acceptable," President Karzai's comments were the latest
in a series of condemnations of International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) bombings he has issued over the past
months. The attack, which the governor of Kunduz claimed has
killed ninety people, was a targeted bombing aimed at Taliban
insurgents who had hijacked two oil tankers. President
Karzai called for a full and complete investigation into the
incident and has dispatched a team to the site.
2. (C) After similar attacks in the past, President Karzai
has issued strong statements blasting ISAF for killing
innocent civilians. While his comments on the incident in
Kunduz, in a slight departure from previous statements, did
not mention international forces by name, the implication was
that ISAF continues to target civilians in their operations
in Afghanistan. ISAF immediately sent investigators to
Kunduz, but President Karzai called for his own investigation
the day after the event and there appears to be no
communication or coordination between his team and the ISAF
team. Similarly, our advisor to the Government Media and
Information Center (GMIC) reports that there was no message
coordination between ISAF and the GMIC before the two bodies
issued their statements on the event.
3. (C) Comment: This incident comes at a sensitive time for
relations between the Karzai administration and the
international community due to the lack of resolution on the
election results and questions about the possibility of a
second round of voting. As the ISAF and Afghan investigations
of the event go forward, this incident could become a
rallying point for Afghans to step up criticism of the
international presence.
EIKENBERRY