ADDRESSING AFGHAN PARLIAMENTARY CONCERNS OVER U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 004025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV AF SUBJECT: ADDRESSING AFGHAN PARLIAMENTARY CONCERNS OVER U.S. STRATEGY Classified By: D/Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Ambassador Ricciardone visited Parliament's Upper and Lower Houses December 11 and 12 to discuss the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and specific MP concerns regarding President Obama's December 1 speech. In the two meetings, MPs expressed broad support for President Obama's strategy but voiced concerns about coordination with Parliament as well as GIRoA; about Taliban reconciliation, Afghan-Pakistan tensions, and civilian casualties. MPs from both Houses urged sustained U.S. support for human rights, while women MPs particularly appealed for U.S. help in raising the profile of women's issues. While most MPs couched their concerns in a context of "what is the United States going to do to solve our problems?" Lower House Speaker Qanooni, who holds presidential ambitions, spoke forcefully of the role Parliament should take to address these issues. In both sessions, The interest was high and the atmosphere lively but respectful throughout. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- U.S. Strategy: Upper House MPs Basically Supportive ... -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) D/Ambassador Ricciardone, as Charge d'Affaires, met with Afghanistan's Upper House leadership on December 11 to address MP questions or concerns regarding U.S. strategy as announced by President Obama on December 1. Upper House Speaker Mojadeddi, Deputy Speaker Gailani and most committee chairpersons attended the meeting. Ricciardone reassured the audience that the United States was committed to providing long-term security, assistance, and training support to Afghanistan. Further, the President's comment that combat troops would begin to leave in mid-2011 did not signal an end of U.S. security support to Afghanistan. Rather, assistance and training for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will continue well beyond 2011. The Ambassador affirmed that as the ANSF increases in quality and quantity, the need for U.S. combat forces will diminish and their numbers will decrease. Additionally, our decision to open consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat shows that the U.S. is committed to a long-term partnership with all of Afghanistan. ¶3. (C) Riccciardone explained that setting a troop timeline should reassure Afghans that we desire no permanent military presence in Afghanistan, but instead we envision a multi-year commitment to provide training, diplomatic support, and development assistance to the country. He assured MPs that President Obama's speech also made clear our bilateral relationship has changed. President Obama has established a target date of 2011 for transitioning the ANSF into a lead role in securing Afghanistan sovereignty for its citizens. He told the group the President's intention was to reassure Afghans and to warn their enemies that the United States will stand with Afghanistan to bring peace to their nation. -------------- -------------- .. but ask about Pakistan, Taliban Reconciliation, Civilian Casualties -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Following Ricciardone's opening remarks, Speaker Mojadeddi replied that the unveiling of the new strategy invariably gave rise to many questions. MP concerns included a need for increased U.S. involvement in solving Afghan-Pakistan issues, more emphasis on Taliban reconciliation, better coordination with ANSF to reduce civilian casualties, and more focus on the empowerment of Afghan women (this last issue only from female MPs). In response, Ricciardone pointed out that President Obama and the Secretaries of Defense and State have said repeatedly thategy," and emphasized "there will be no exit from our partnership and friendship neither in security nor development." He informed the MPs that although U.S. combat troops would begin a drawdown in 18 months, how quickly they leave will be determined by Afghanistan's security situation. ¶6. (C) Moving beyond security issues, Ricciardone requested an update of Lower House legislative priorities and achievements. He exhorted MPs to pursue an agenda that provided full participation and human rights for all Afghans, and not to marginalize the role of women in civil and political society. He prodded the Lower House to pass the revised EVAW bill into law to provide more safeguards for the rights of women. He stated that we continue to urge President Karzai to a appoint capable, clean Cabinet that will improve governance and fight corruption (NOTE: Lower House MPs must confirm Karzai's Cabinet choices; the Upper House plays no role in the confirmation process. END NOTE). Finally, Ricciardone cautioned MPs that the United States was concerned about the feasibility of holding secure, transparent Parliamentary elections (scheduled for spring 2010) on time, given the experience of the . 2009 elections. ¶7. (C) Lower House Speaker Qanooni provided a detailed off-the-cuff response, first saying that the Lower House's legislative agenda for the current session was completed, having passed 98 legislative documents (NOTE: The Lower House has not passed 98 bills; it is unclear what he meant by this. END NOTE). Qanooni remarked that the Lower House voted to extend its session beyond the December 6 recess date in order to vote on Karzai's new Cabinet, and assured the Ambassador that the Lower House intends to confirm Cabinet members committed to reform and who will change Afghans' lives. He noted that success in this endeavor must be a joint effort between Afghanistan and the international community. Qanooni warned that needed change cannot be accomplished by a weak, corrupt government. Regarding the EVAW, Qanooni said the bill contains 49 articles, 42 of which have been passed; he was confident the remaining seven articles would soon be resolved in committee. Qanooni doubted that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) would be able to conduct transparent elections in 2010, implying a disposition to delay the elections. -------------- -------------- Lower House Concerns: Corruption, Civilian Casualties, Pakistan -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) Lower House MPs also generally endorsed the President's speech and voiced many of the same concerns expressed by the Upper House colleagues the previous day. MPs repeatedly focused on the need to fight corruption. They raised a number of questions regarding particulars of the announced troop surge and subsequent withdrawal starting in ¶2011. Female MPs appealed for U.S. help in raising the profile of women's issues. MPs also asked that the United States pay more attention to Pakistan and its role in Afghan security issues, Taliban reconciliation, and civilian casualties. Ambassador Ricciardone reiterated to Lower House MPs his comments from the earlier meeting with their Upper House counterparts. While most MPs couched their concerns in the context of "What is the United States going to do to solve our problems," Lower House Speaker Qanooni, who holds presidential ambitions, spoke forcefully of the role the Lower House should take to address these issues. EIKENBERRY KABUL 00004025 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) On December 12, Ricciardone carried the same message to the Lower House. A large and senior attendance drew out the scheduled one-hour meeting to two and a half hours. Ricciardone, rebutted several MP's concerns that President Obama had laid out an "exit strategy," and emphasized "there will be no exit from our partnership and friendship neither in security nor development." He informed the MPs that although U.S. combat troops would begin a drawdown in 18 months, how quickly they leave will be determined by Afghanistan's security situation. ¶6. (C) Moving beyond security issues, Ricciardone requested an update of Lower House legislative priorities and achievements. He exhorted MPs to pursue an agenda that provided full participation and human rights for all Afghans, and not to marginalize the role of women in civil and political society. He prodded the Lower House to pass the revised EVAW bill into law to provide more safeguards for the rights of women. He stated that we continue to urge President Karzai to a appoint capable, clean Cabinet that will improve governance and fight corruption (NOTE: Lower House MPs must confirm Karzai's Cabinet choices; the Upper House plays no role in the confirmation process. END NOTE). Finally, Ricciardone cautioned MPs that the United States was concerned about the feasibility of holding secure, transparent Parliamentary elections (scheduled for spring 2010) on time, given the experience of the . 2009 elections. ¶7. (C) Lower House Speaker Qanooni provided a detailed off-the-cuff response, first saying that the Lower House's legislative agenda for the current session was completed, having passed 98 legislative documents (NOTE: The Lower House has not passed 98 bills; it is unclear what he meant by this. END NOTE). Qanooni remarked that the Lower House voted to extend its session beyond the December 6 recess date in order to vote on Karzai's new Cabinet, and assured the Ambassador that the Lower House intends to confirm Cabinet members committed to reform and who will change Afghans' lives. He noted that success in this endeavor must be a joint effort between Afghanistan and the international community. Qanooni warned that needed change cannot be accomplished by a weak, corrupt government. Regarding the EVAW, Qanooni said the bill contains 49 articles, 42 of which have been passed; he was confident the remaining seven articles would soon be resolved in committee. Qanooni doubted that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) would be able to conduct transparent elections in 2010, implying a disposition to delay the elections. -------------- -------------- Lower House Concerns: Corruption, Civilian Casualties, Pakistan -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) Lower House MPs also generally endorsed the President's speech and voiced many of the same concerns expressed by the Upper House colleagues the previous day. MPs repeatedly focused on the need to fight corruption. They raised a number of questions regarding particulars of the announced troop surge and subsequent withdrawal starting in ¶2011. Female MPs appealed for U.S. help in raising the profile of women's issues. MPs also asked that the United States pay more attention to Pakistan and its role in Afghan security issues, Taliban reconciliation, and civilian casualties. Ambassador Ricciardone reiterated to Lower House MPs his comments from the earlier meeting with their Upper House counterparts. While most MPs couched their concerns in the context of "What is the United States going to do to solve our problems," Lower House Speaker Qanooni, who holds presidential ambitions, spoke forcefully of the role the Lower House should take to address these issues. EIKENBERRY