EVIDENCE LACKING OF ROSHAN TIES TO IRAN

S E C R E T KABUL 004030 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019 TAGS: ECPS PREL PINR IR AF SUBJECT: EVIDENCE LACKING OF ROSHAN TIES TO IRAN Classified By: CDDEA: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne; reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (S) EmbOffs have heard informally for some time that Roshan, Afghanistan's largest telecommunications provider, is partially owned by an Iranian entity and, possibly the Iranian government, including Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps organizations. Reports to this effect have been circulating in Kabul and Washington for a number of years. ¶2. (S) Embassy elements recently concluded an all-source review of available intelligence reporting, which revealed no proven connection between Roshan and any Iranian entity, and was unable to identify any Iranian ownership or management. These reviews were unable to substantiate Iranian connections to Roshan. ¶3. (U) Given information available to post, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development owns 51 percent of Roshan. Western companies own the other 49 percent. The Aga Khan, the leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, has no connections to Iran of which we are aware. Roshan, which has operated in Afghanistan since 2003, has approximately three million subscribers. ¶4. (S) If Washington agencies have other information please share with post. EIKENBERRY