KUNAR AND NURISTAN PROVINCES HOLD JOINT SHURA

UNCLAS KABUL 000900

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF
SUBJECT: KUNAR AND NURISTAN PROVINCES HOLD JOINT SHURA


1. Summary. Kunar Governor Wahidi and Nuristan Governor
Jamaluddin convened in Asadabad the first-ever joint shura of
some 250 tribal elders and local officials representing the
border districts in both provinces. The gathering focused on
the serious security challenges along the Kunar-Nuristan
border and the need for joint action to counter the &foreign
Taliban threat.8 End Summary.

Inter-provincial Shura Blames
Insecurity on &Foreign Taliban8
--------------


2. On March 26, a first-ever inter-provincial shura was held
in Asadabad (capital of Kunar province) which brought
together 250 tribal elders and local officials from Kunar and
Nuristan provinces to discuss the security threat to the two
provinces. The shura was generally supportive of the
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs),coalition forces, and
the Afghan government, and blamed insecurity on &foreign
Taliban8 from Pakistan.


3. A common theme was the need for Afghans to unite to work
with the international community to defeat insurgents. Even
though Afghan Taliban are easily manipulated by foreign
Taliban, the shura encouraged tribal elders to reconcile
them. One representative said that when united, Afghans can
defeat any foreign invader, including these foreign Taliban.
Another said that Afghans must take responsibility for their
own security before AMERICA pulls its troops out of
Afghanistan, as they are doing from Iraq. There was some
dissension between the representatives over which province
contributes most to instability in the region, but Nuristan
Governor Jamaluddin successfully persuaded the delegates to
stop blaming each other and focus on the real problem of
insurgents penetrating villages in both provinces.


4. Both governors said they were extremely pleased with the
high level of participation and debate at the shura; they
were confident border cooperation would improve as a result
of the initiatives launched at the shura. The border
district representatives agreed with the governors, proposal
to form a 15-person permanent shura comprised of religious,
tribal, and former mujaheddin representatives from the border
districts. The joint shura would convene on a monthly basis
to address security problems on both sides of the border, and
would select a representative to attend the
coalition-sponsored monthly governors' conference.
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