KHOST-GARDEZ PASS ROAD SHURA IN KHOST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000544

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CG CJTF-101 POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF
SUBJECT: KHOST-GARDEZ PASS ROAD SHURA IN KHOST

Summary and Comment
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1. (U) Khost Governor Qalandarzai hosted over 800 elders and
leaders from Khost, Paktya and Paktika provinces at a March 4
shura to showcase the benefits of USAID's $120 million paved
road from Khost City to Gardez, Paktya. Qalandarzai, along
with the Paktya and Paktika governors, emphasized the road's
positive impact on the region and urged residents to support
the project, including by helping with security. Once
completed in 2010, the 101km road will link key centers of
commerce in eastern Afghanistan with each other, Kabul and
the Pakistan border. The project, which employs 1,500
workers and disrupts enemy transit routes, has been attacked
by insurgents as well as locals upset that work was
subcontracted to an Indian company. Shura participants sent
a unified message that the road is in everyone's interest,
bringing improved access to schools, clinics and markets.


2. (U) With work on the Khost-Gardez (K-G) Road proceeding on
the Khost side during the mild winter, Task Force Currahee
encouraged Governor Qalandarzai to hold a shura to mark
progress. Qalandarzai, appointed in January, invited fellow
governors, tribal leaders from Khost, Paktya and Paktika,
parliamentarians, ministers, the Independent Directorate for
Local Governance (IDLG) and UNAMA. TF Currahee provided
transportation and lunch for the event, held at ANA's Camp
Parsa in Khost. The event was a companion to an August 2008
shura on the Paktya side marking the road's groundbreaking.

GOVERNORS CALL FOR UNIFIED SUPPORT
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3. (U) In his remarks, Qalandarzai noted the psychological as
well as physical impact of development projects. He asked
the crowd to support the K-G Road project, adding that a
mullah recently asked him to proceed with the road even if it
requires relocating mosques along the route. "This is
allowed by Islam," he said. Qalandarzai praised the Louis
Berger Group (LBG),USAID's contractor for the project, and
asked elders to provide whatever assistance LBG needs,
including good quality materials. He told the audience he
was looking for funding to widen an additional four
kilometers of road near the western entrance to Khost City
not covered by the current USAID project. Pointing out that
education, health care and jobs all stem from good security,
Qalandarzai said a joint ANSF coordination center may be
established on the Paktya-Khost border.


4. (U) Paktya Governor Hamdard called on the crowd to work
together, as Afghans from Khost, Paktya and Paktika did when
the region was known as Loya Paktya. By supporting USAID and
uniting behind a project as important as the K-G Road, elders
will add their names to Afghanistan's history. He said he
discussed with USAID the need to hire workers from families
displaced by the road's route. Noting that the enemy is
trying to disrupt security along the road, Hamdard asked for
greater coordination and support from ANSF, Coalition Forces
(CF) and the people, singling out Zadran communities in Khost
and Paktya. He urged elders to persuade young Afghans to go
to school or join the ANSF and work for peace in Afghanistan.



5. (U) Paktika's recently appointed governor, Abdul Qayum
Katawazay, echoed Hamdard's call for Loya Paktya Afghans to
unite in support of the road project. Although the road does
not go through his province, Katawazay said its completion is
one of his top priorities because of the benefits it will
bring to Paktika. He pointed out the road will reduce time
required for transporting goods throughout the region,
including to the Ghulam Khan border crossing point. "Please
support this road; it's for your benefit," he concluded.

LOCAL OFFICIALS ASK ELDERS TO HELP WITH SECURITY
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6. (U) Other speakers from Paktya and Khost praised the road
project for connecting the people of the region, and urged
elders to help with security efforts and prevent attacks
against LBG workers. Paktya Wolesi Jirga MP Sharifa Zormati
congratulated the elders and officials for fulfilling the
people's request for the road. "We asked for this project
and it is happening," she said, adding, "If we stay united,
we can reach our goal." She noted the workers are from Loya
Paktya, asked the audience to support them and LBG and
prevent the enemy from killing them, and pointed out that
tribal forces (arbakai) are helping protect the road. She
also praised the few women who had come to the event and
reminded the audience of the importance of Afghan women.

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Khost Women's Affairs Director Rugwal Zadran stressed the
project's economic importance, bringing jobs to poor
families, improving security and bringing the people closer
to their government.


7. (U) The Khost Provincial Council Chair recommended that
ANSF reduce the number of checkpoints on the road and stop
taking money from drivers. The council chair added, "We are
sick of fighting. We are sick of enemy activity. We want
peace and security in our area and good reconstruction
projects like in other countries." Complaining that Loya
Paktya has no minister in the central government despite the
region's strong support for President Karzai, he urged elders
and mullahs to choose someone to represent the region. "We
should have a minister from Loya Paktya," he demanded to
applause, adding, "No one can tell you who to vote for; vote
for whoever you think will be good for Afghanistan." Several
tribal leaders called for greater coordination within the
ANSF and between the ANSF and CF. Khost Police Chief Abdul
Qayum Bakazoi emphasized the ANP is working to protect
Afghans, with recent returnees from the Focused District
Development program conducting daily patrols, searches and
checkpoints to improve security and be more responsive.

A FEW COMPLAINTS
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8. (U) While supportive of the K-G Road, Haji Nasim Zadran,
an elder from Nadar Shah Kot in Khost, complained that poor
Zadran tribal members are not being hired to work on the
project. Quoting a Pashtun proverb, he said, "You say come
and eat but then you don't give food." He continued, "What
has the government done for us in Khost in seven years?" What
will they do in the next seven years?" He called on the
three governors to consult first with the Zadran tribes,
which predominate along the K-G Road, before meeting with
other tribes. (Jalaluddin and Sirajudin Haqqani retain a
power base in their home district of Gerda Serai in Paktya.)
If they do, Zadran elders can help with security, including
by providing tips about enemy activities in the area.


9. (U) Paktya MP Zormati also struck a mildly sour note with
her remark that no ministers had bothered to attend the day's
event and continue to ignore the region. She added that they
would have flocked from Kabul to the event if it been in
Bamayan or Badakhshan.
WOOD