PAKTIKA GOVERNOR FRUSTRATED BY CONFUSION OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000004 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR WILKES CENTCOM FOR USFOR-A COS, CG CJTF-101 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: PAKTIKA GOVERNOR FRUSTRATED BY CONFUSION OVER ELECTION-RELATED PERSONNEL CHANGES Classified By: A/DCM Valerie C. Fowler for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Paktika Governor Khpalwak expects IDLG to name Kandahar NDS Chief Abdul Qayum Kattawazai as Paktika's new governor in the near future. In a December 26 meeting, Khpalwak, who returned that morning from hajj, told TF Currahee's Colonel Johnson and PRT Commander Wheeler that he would resign if he does not hear within 10 to 15 days about his replacement or his future. Khpalwak complained uncertainty caused by election-related shifts is distracting officials from the business of governing. He agreed to travel to troubled Naka and Gayan districts to mobilize support for voter registration, and said he is working on a plan to strengthen ANSF presence throughout the province. He is also studying how to engage Paktika's powerful tribal elders and religious leaders to involve local communities in providing security, in part due to the low quality of ANP that often results in public support for the Taliban. Election Season Impacts on Paktika Governance -------------- ¶2. (C) Upon his return from hajj, Khpalwak heard reports of Kattawazai's pending appointment. He unsuccessfully waited in Kabul three days to see President Karzai before finally leaving for Paktika. He claims to have rejected an earlier offer to fill the vacant Khost governorship, noting that continuing public resentment over night raids and civilian casualties by Coalition Forces (CF) make the position particularly unattractive. He wants to meet with Karzai at the start of the year; if unsuccesful, he threatens to resign. He committed to continue working for Paktika in some capacity, even if replaced as governor. ¶3. (C) Khpalwak blamed the upcoming elections and the political situation in Kabul for creating confusion that is distracting GIRoA leadership from daily governance. Constant personnel changes and confusion have made it difficult to do long-range planning, he complained. "Everyone is shifting. There is a sense Karzai doesn't have U.S. or NATO support so lots of candidates are starting to come out,8 he said. "Everyone is talking against the government now. We need positive change to come quickly; further delay only creates confusion." While Karzai's advisors may be encouraging him to speak out against the Coalition and corruption in order to win public support, Khpalwak maintains such comments are backfiring; Afghans hold Karzai responsible for the lack of progress on security and corruption. Voter Registration Situation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Governor Khpalwak accepted Task Force Currahee's offer to fly him to Gayan District center on December 31, where he conducted a shura with district leadership; nevertheless, the voter registration (VR) site in Gayan district remains closed due to insecurity. The Governor also accepted the Task Force's offer to fly him to Naka district to meet with local leaders and mobilize support for VR. Khpalwak also plans to deliver radio messages throughout the province to drive up registration. While over 30,000 have registered to date, the province may fall short of the Governor's ambitious target of 100,000. Khpalwak expects little central government assistance, predicting Kabul will be preoccupied with end-of-year requirements and election-related maneuvering. He asked for continued TF Currahee and PRT support to ensure a successful VR campaign. &If we can't do voter registration, it will be difficult for people to vote. The situation will be dangerous in Afghanistan if we can't do a successful election,8 he warned. Security Planning -------------- ¶5. (C) Khpalwak is working on a plan to strengthen ANSF presence in four key areas (Kayer Khot Castle, Sharana, Yahya Khel and Mest) and along the roads between Orgun and Sharana and Orgun and Bermal, in an effort to improve commerce and public freedom of movement. Spreading ANA throughout the province will also create the conditions for people to participate safely in the election process, despite the insurgents' widespread presence. Khpalwak complained that ANA brigade commanders need more decision-making authority to KABUL 00000004 002 OF 002 plan and implement operations; having to seek advance approval from Corps Headquarters and MoD to deploy troops severely hampers their effectiveness. Constant ANSF presence will lead to increased public support for GIRoA, he stressed, adding that Afghan Border Police (ABP) need to respond more forcefully to cross-border insurgent activities. Border forces are at 54 percent strength now, with a target of 100 percent by August 2009 following an intensive recruit, train and equip program. ¶6. (C) Khpalwak is also studying how to engage Paktika's powerful tribal elders and religious leaders to involve local communities in providing security. The low quality of ANP in the province often drives people to support the Taliban, he noted. He listed Zirok, Naka, Gayan, Spina, Yusuf Khel, Sar Hawza and Zadran as areas subject to strong Taliban pressure, with generally weak district administrators, shuras and ANP. More ANA will lead to better ANP; then we can start to re-claim these districts, the Governor said. "Eighty percent of Paktika supports the government but 20 percent supports the Taliban or doesn't know about the government." . . . "We need a better information campaign to convince them the Taliban is not good for the region," he said. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Despite his regular absences from Paktika, Khpalwak has been a strong proponent of government and CF efforts in the province. His frustration with IDLG-inspired personnel shifts and the uncertainty over his own future appear to be weakening his support for Karzai. Never one to quietly sit by, Khpalwak is likely to voice more frank commentary about Karzai's government as the elections approach, depending on the outcome of his upcoming meeting with the president. TF Currahee and PRT Sharana will continue to encourage and support the Governor's outreach to the public and local officials throughout Paktika. WOOD