DEMARCHE DELIVERED: REQUESTING SPECIFIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000362 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/I, SCA/A FOR TOM REOTT, EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AF KU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: REQUESTING SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHANISTAN REF: A. STATE 31102 ¶B. STATE 29482 Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (U) There is an action request in para 5. ¶2. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by Afghanistan's Ambassador to Kuwait Abdul Rahem Karemy, delivered ref A demarche on April 14 to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah describing outcomes of the Afghanistan/Pakistan Strategic Review and urging KUWAIT to work with the UNHCR and ICRC to increase assistance to refugees and internally displaced people and to contribute USD 20 million per year for five years to the NATO Afghan National Army Trust Fund. Ambassador also gave the FM a copy of the conclusions of the Strategic Review, drawn from ref B, emphasizing the link between insecurity in Pakistan and Afghanistan and underscoring the urgent need for regional actors to step up to the plate and contribute to stability in Afghanistan by providing targetted assistance. ¶3. (C) Picking up his cue, Afghanistan's Ambassador emphasized to the FM his concerns over problems in Afghanistan emanating from Pakistan, including from the extremist teachings many Afghan students receive in Pakistani "madrasas" or religious schools. Ambassador Karemy appealed to KUWAIT to participate in contributing to a "moderate" Arab presence in Afghanistan, through assistance programs, to counter the extremist messages that are coming from some Iranians and Pakistanis present there. ¶4. (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed did not respond directly to our appeals for a specific package of assistance, but indicated he would study the issue. He also asked for more background and specifics concerning the aims and purposes of the Afghan National Army Trust Fund. ¶5. (U) Action request: Department is requested to provide further background information on the Afghan National Army Trust Fund that can be shared with the Foreign Minister. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES