AFGHANISTAN: FCO AFGHANISTAN DIRECTOR SAYS FS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000222 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/A, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR AF UK SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: FCO AFGHANISTAN DIRECTOR SAYS FS MILIBAND OPEN TO DISCUSION ON CONTROL OF HELMAND EFFORTS; HMG SEEKS HIGH LEVEL CONSULTATIONS IN RUN-UP TO NATO SUMMIT Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) KABUL POL-MIL MEETING -------------- ¶1. (C) The UK is looking forward to hearing details about the new U.S. Administration's plans for military and civilian efforts in Afghanistan, and sees the weeks remaining before the April 3 NATO summit as critical to coordinating ISAF strategy, particularly in RC-South. FCO Afghanistan Office Director Matthew Lodge said the next step would be a pol-mil meeting on the south, to take place February 12 in Kabul and which will be coordinated by ISAF Commander General McKiernan's staff. Attendees are to include key players in pol-mil/civ-mil efforts in RC-S, including PRT officials. The FCO will also be represented by South Asia Director Adam Thomson. ¶2. (C/NF) Lodge noted that the UK's goal is to come out of the meeting with an effective command and control strategy, comprehensive plans for capitalizing on the capabilities represented by the increase in U.S. military personnel, and discussions on McKiernan's goals for the south, i.e. the possible utilization of RC-E structures, such as more military control over PRTs, in the south, and proposals for coordinating British civilian elements in Helmand within what could become zones where security was provided by the U.S. military. Lodge said that FS Miliband was open to new constructs; HMG should not be tied to British "ownership" of particular districts or provinces at the expense of overall mission success. Lodge underlined that MOD principals might not share Miliband's views, and that the domestic political ramifications to PM Brown's Labour government of any perceived transfer of control in the south would also have to be carefully considered. U.S.-UK BILAT/RC-S MEETING/RUSSIAN SPONSORED MEETING -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) Lodge said that he, and possibly Thomson, plan to visit Washington in early March for bilateral talks with State/NSC/DOD, and possibly special envoy Holbrooke's office if appropriate. HMG also plans to host a high level RC-S meeting the week of March 16, details of which are still under discussion. Lodge noted that Russia was planning on hosting an Afghanistan conference in Moscow on March 25, and would be inviting all regional players, including members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, NATO, OSCE, Iran and Pakistan. The UK has not finalized a position on the Russian proposal. Finally, Italy is planning a post-NATO Summit meeting for G-8 Foreign Ministers June 26 in Rome, to focus on border management, CN and trafficking. NATO SUMMIT - ISAF Session -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) According to Lodge, France has offered to host an ISAF Defense Ministers meeting in either Paris or Brussels in advance of the NATO Summit. The UK's view is that an ISAF Heads of State meeting during the Summit would be more effective for extracting resources and burdensharing, as well as for forging a common statement among coalition members. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE