Interior Minister Welcomes More Support for the Counter

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003906 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2019 TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: Interior Minister Welcomes More Support for the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan Classified By: CDDEA: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne; reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: In a December 1 meeting with Ambassador Wayne, Interior Minister Atmar called "Afghanization" of the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) a major goal of his possible next term and asked for USG support to develop its intelligence gathering and air asset capabilities. He emphasized that the Poppy Eradication Force (PEF) should continue to operate to provide a strategic disincentive for Afghans who do not respect the law, and praised the FBI's involvement in the Major Crimes Task Force for protecting honest Afghan law enforcement officials and creating political space for them to act against corruption. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In the meeting, Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs Wayne told Minister Atmar that we believe much needs to be done to further strengthen the CNPA, especially its non-specialized presence in the field. Atmar welcomed increased attention on the CNPA, calling the force critical because it takes possession of all illegal drugs discovered by ANSF and ISAF forces. Speculating that he has a "50-50" chance of remaining Interior Minister, Atmar called "Afghanization" of the CNPA a goal for his possible next term and asked for USG support to develop its intelligence gathering and air asset capabilities. While $80 million has already been spent on the CNPA, Atmar said the current situation of joint oversight of the Air Interdiction Unit by the MOI and international partners created a "child with two to three mothers," and insisted the CNPA must be in Afghan hands to succeed at the provincial level. Provincial police should access vast quantities of intelligence, he said, and CNPA personnel should manage intelligence gathering in every province to maintain their edge. But right now, he said this is relative over dependence on technical intelligence gathering: the CNPA needs to improve its human intelligence collection and analysis. ¶3. (C) Atmar expressed his condolences for the deaths of three DEA agents during a counter-narcotics raid in October and highly praised DEA's work, noting its training of specialized interdiction and investigation units. He said joint efforts to combat drug trafficking must press forward. Emphasizing that the PEF should continue to operate in order to provide a strategic disincentive for Afghans who do not respect the law, he said the PEF needs enhanced resources and support. He praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation's involvement in the Major Crimes Task Force for protecting honest Afghan law enforcement officials from "the lords of drugs and corruption" and for creating political space for them to act against corruption. Atmar said he worked so hard to get an FBI presence because he knew that would frighten those who try to bribe or intimidate Afghan investigations. Comment - - - - ¶4. (C) Minister Atmar continues to insist on the importance of the stick as well as the carrot on counter-narcotics, despite the shift in U.S. support for eradication. The Embassy has several ideas about how to redeploy the PEF consistent with the CNPA mission, which we will develop with the MOI, but Atmar will have difficulty finding funding for the PEF if he wants to use them for poppy eradication.