Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL623
2009-03-17 06:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
KEY OPIUM SMUGGLING ROUTE THROUGH DAI KUNDI,S
how-toVZCZCXRO2275 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #0623 0760650 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 170650Z MAR 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7792 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000623
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF
SUBJECT: KEY OPIUM SMUGGLING ROUTE THROUGH DAI KUNDI,S
KIJIRAN DISTRICT CAUSE OF INSTABILITY
Classified By: PRT and Sub-National Governance Director Valerie C. Fowl
er for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000623
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF
SUBJECT: KEY OPIUM SMUGGLING ROUTE THROUGH DAI KUNDI,S
KIJIRAN DISTRICT CAUSE OF INSTABILITY
Classified By: PRT and Sub-National Governance Director Valerie C. Fowl
er for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Dai Kundi Provincial Council (PC) member
Ramani (protect) from Kijiran district told Bamyan PRT on
March 4 that the Taliban and other anti-government entities
are promoting instability in the district because it is a key
opium smuggling route northwest from Uruzgan province to a
major heroin bazaar and processing center located just west
of Kijiran in Baghran district, Helmand province. Shutting
Kijiran off as a transit route would add days of travel to
the smugglers, routes, he said. End Summary.
2. (C) Ramani is an influential member of the Dai Kundi
provincial council from Kijiran district. According to
Ramani, there is a large heroin bazaar in a town called
Nomas, and a large heroin processing center in another town
(he would not provide the name) near Nomas. Both are located
just over the border of Kijiran in Baghran district, Helmand
province. On a hand drawn map, Ramani placed the towns near
the intersection of Baghran, Kijiran and Pasaband district in
Ghor province. He said both towns can be observed through
binoculars from the Kijiran side of the border.
3. (C) Ramani said smuggling heroin northwest from Uruzgan
province across Kijiran and into Baghran is a relatively
short trip. If that route were to be closed, circling south
around Kijiran would take days. In Ramani,s estimation, the
people of Kijiran are staunchly opposed to the Taliban, but
are powerless to defend themselves. Ramani said the Afghan
National Police (ANP) force in Kijiran is far too small and
too outgunned to confront the smugglers, and unless they
receive more forces and better equipment, the district will
continue to suffer from insecurity and violence.
WOOD
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF
SUBJECT: KEY OPIUM SMUGGLING ROUTE THROUGH DAI KUNDI,S
KIJIRAN DISTRICT CAUSE OF INSTABILITY
Classified By: PRT and Sub-National Governance Director Valerie C. Fowl
er for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Dai Kundi Provincial Council (PC) member
Ramani (protect) from Kijiran district told Bamyan PRT on
March 4 that the Taliban and other anti-government entities
are promoting instability in the district because it is a key
opium smuggling route northwest from Uruzgan province to a
major heroin bazaar and processing center located just west
of Kijiran in Baghran district, Helmand province. Shutting
Kijiran off as a transit route would add days of travel to
the smugglers, routes, he said. End Summary.
2. (C) Ramani is an influential member of the Dai Kundi
provincial council from Kijiran district. According to
Ramani, there is a large heroin bazaar in a town called
Nomas, and a large heroin processing center in another town
(he would not provide the name) near Nomas. Both are located
just over the border of Kijiran in Baghran district, Helmand
province. On a hand drawn map, Ramani placed the towns near
the intersection of Baghran, Kijiran and Pasaband district in
Ghor province. He said both towns can be observed through
binoculars from the Kijiran side of the border.
3. (C) Ramani said smuggling heroin northwest from Uruzgan
province across Kijiran and into Baghran is a relatively
short trip. If that route were to be closed, circling south
around Kijiran would take days. In Ramani,s estimation, the
people of Kijiran are staunchly opposed to the Taliban, but
are powerless to defend themselves. Ramani said the Afghan
National Police (ANP) force in Kijiran is far too small and
too outgunned to confront the smugglers, and unless they
receive more forces and better equipment, the district will
continue to suffer from insecurity and violence.
WOOD