PRT KUNDUZ - GOVERNOR RAISES CONCERNS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000840 DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA USFOR-A FOR POLAD SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV AF SUBJECT: PRT KUNDUZ - GOVERNOR RAISES CONCERNS AFTER RAID IN IMAM SAHIB SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In the early morning hours of March 22 in the district capital of Imam Sahib, Coalition Forces conducted a security operation at Mayor Sufi Abdul Manon's guest house. The operation resulted in five deaths. In the aftermath of the event, locals have protested, rumors are flying about how the men were killed, the Governor has condemned the lack of coordination with the local Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF),and the German PRT is under pressure to comment on the event. On March 23, a team from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) arrived in the province to conduct an investigation of the incident. RAID IN IMAM SAHIB -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Following a coalition security operation in the early morning of March 22 in the district capital of Imam Sahib (Kunduz Province) which resulted in five local deaths, the State PRT representative reported that the bodies of the dead were taken by locals to the traffic circle in the center of the city, where approximately 1500 locals demonstrated throughout the day. ANSF forces were on hand to monitor the crowd. GOVERNOR OMAR CONDEMNS THE RAID AND LACK OF COORDINATION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Governor Omar spoke with PRT representative on the morning of March 22 about the raid. The Governor stated that security operations in the province need to be coordinated with local ANSF, noting that when there are deaths, it fuels the public's impression that Americans are trying to spread violence. Omar acknowledged there are pockets of insurgent instability in the North, but the local population is generally supportive of the Government, he said. He expressed his concern the incident would create a wider rift between the government and the people and provide a public relations opportunity for the opposition. As such, he said he had no choice but to condemn the operation. Omar reiterated his condemnation later in the morning at the weekly Provincial Security Meeting and on Ariana television. MINISTRY OF INTERIOR LED INVESTIGATION -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On March 23, a team from Kabul, including Deputy Interior Minister General Daoud Daoud, the head of MOI's Criminal Police Unit, and representatives from the Ministry of Defense and NDS traveled to Imam Sahib to investigate the incident. A provincial delegation including NDS, officials from the Governor's office, ANP and Provincial Council members also met with local elders on March ¶22. A local group petitioned Mayor Manon for permission to continue the demonstrations of the previous day, though he declined the request. The dead bodyguard and his brother, both originally from Sar-i-Pul Province, have been returned home and the three other locals have now been buried. Local rumors not based in fact are reportedly swirling about the incident: that the five dead were executed in the courtyard; that they were killed in bed; that the four arrested people were simply bystanders outside the compound; and that silencers were used during the raid. Visiting German reporters have traveled to Imam Sahib to track the ongoing GIRoA investigation. COMMENTS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Governor Omar took great pains to provide an explanation for his condemnation and wanted to make sure his reasoning was passed back to Kabul. In the past, Omar has repeatedly and strongly supported U.S. anti-insurgent operations, particularly those strikes in Pakistan. However, a primary theme of his relationship with the PRT has been continued advocacy for closer and more effective joint security operations. Joint ANSF/PRT security operations in Kunduz Province in December and January have allowed development projects in the troubled Chahar Dara District to move forward after months of instability. At the March 22 Provincial SecurityQeeting, both the Governor and PRT Commander renewed their commitment to enhancing joint operations in the future. Likewise, U.S. Police Mentor Team cooperation with the ANP in the Imam Sahib FDD district has also strongly contributed to increasing levels of cooperation between ANSD and coalition forces in the region. The Imam Sahib deaths and a subsequent bloody attempt to rob an Afghan National Bank transfer of $2.5 million on March 23 in Aliabad, killing two ANP and injuring five, have clearly rattled Governor Omar. While a rather ineffectual administrator and often considered "weak" by his KABUL 00000840 002 OF 002 detractors, Omar's strength has been his ability to juggle the competing factions within the province and to keep the insurgency at a low level. With two major security incidents on his hands in the opening days of the Muslim New Year (1388),Omar is concerned. ¶6. (SBU) Mayor Manon is a former Jihadi commander reportedly under Kunduz MP Qari Rahmatullah and closely aligned with local Tajik powerbroker and former Northern Alliance general Mir Alam. Manon has had generally good relations with the PRT in the past and all sources readily acknowledge that while he may be involved in a variety of smuggling activities, given his history and Jamiat allegiance Manon would not knowingly align with Taliban insurgency. Both Manon and Mir Alam have taken a cautious approach, tamping down protests beyond the initial outburst of anger and have indicated they will closely follow the course of the MOI investigation and the subsequent reaction of Kabul. Local governors, old sub-commanders, provincial council members and other power brokers throughout the Jamiat-and Junbesh-dominated province are currently in a holding pattern as those higher up the political food chain forge their political allegiances for the upcoming election season. Mir Alam's intentions and allegiances remain opaque after he recently declined Governor Omar's offer to be mayor of Kunduz City following the recent death of Mayor Aziz. Whether the Imam Sahib incident metastasizes into a larger political theme in the North in the weeks ahead remains to be seen. ¶7. (SBU) As the story progresses, the German PRT is under increasing pressure to comment publicly about the incident. The presence of German press from the newsweekly "Stern" and the imminent arrival of Uli Gack from television station ZDF and one of Germany's most influential reporters, simply adds to the pressure, as it is unclear about how the story will play in Germany. RICCIARDONE