Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1633
2009-12-17 11:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
Uzbeks Looking for Assistance on Security for Afghan Rail
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNT #1633 3511153 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171153Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1658 INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USTRANSCOM SCOTT AFB IL IMMEDIATE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0126 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001633
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/17
TAGS: EAID PTER PREL AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbeks Looking for Assistance on Security for Afghan Rail
Project
REF: TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0088 10 118346A
TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0068 10 114220A
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001633
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/17
TAGS: EAID PTER PREL AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbeks Looking for Assistance on Security for Afghan Rail
Project
REF: TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0088 10 118346A
TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0068 10 114220A
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Former Ambassador Joe Presel, in Tashkent on private
business, gave Charge a readout of a meeting with the Chairman of
the Uzbek National Security Service, Rustam Innoyatov. Confirming
reports from other sources (Ref A),Innoyatov said the GOU is very
concerned about the security of its people who are to build the
rail line from Hairaton to Mazar-e Sharif and is seeking
assistance. The Uzbeks want security to be a joint effort between
the GOU, the Government of Afghanistan and the United States (or
ISAF). Apparently, the concern of a potential attack or hostage
taking is so great that it is holding up the start of the project,
leading to tensions with the Kabul office of the Asian Development
Bank and the prospect of costly penalty clauses being invoked.
2. (C) The GOU apparently understands that it may not get
ISAF or U.S. forces to protect the project, but is expecting, at a
minimum, Afghan Interior Ministry forces backstopped by ISAF.
Innoyatov said that the GOU would like to set up a joint commission
with the Government of Afghanistan, chaired on the Uzbek side by
his own deputy. Although Innoyatov told Presel that the Uzbeks were
already in contact with the Afghans, the GOU has never approached
Embassy Tashkent for help on this issue. Embassy Kabul may wish to
double-track this with the Uzbek Embassy there to help remove this
roadblock for the rail project.
BUTCHER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/17
TAGS: EAID PTER PREL AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbeks Looking for Assistance on Security for Afghan Rail
Project
REF: TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0088 10 118346A
TASHKENT DAO IIR 6 939 0068 10 114220A
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Former Ambassador Joe Presel, in Tashkent on private
business, gave Charge a readout of a meeting with the Chairman of
the Uzbek National Security Service, Rustam Innoyatov. Confirming
reports from other sources (Ref A),Innoyatov said the GOU is very
concerned about the security of its people who are to build the
rail line from Hairaton to Mazar-e Sharif and is seeking
assistance. The Uzbeks want security to be a joint effort between
the GOU, the Government of Afghanistan and the United States (or
ISAF). Apparently, the concern of a potential attack or hostage
taking is so great that it is holding up the start of the project,
leading to tensions with the Kabul office of the Asian Development
Bank and the prospect of costly penalty clauses being invoked.
2. (C) The GOU apparently understands that it may not get
ISAF or U.S. forces to protect the project, but is expecting, at a
minimum, Afghan Interior Ministry forces backstopped by ISAF.
Innoyatov said that the GOU would like to set up a joint commission
with the Government of Afghanistan, chaired on the Uzbek side by
his own deputy. Although Innoyatov told Presel that the Uzbeks were
already in contact with the Afghans, the GOU has never approached
Embassy Tashkent for help on this issue. Embassy Kabul may wish to
double-track this with the Uzbek Embassy there to help remove this
roadblock for the rail project.
BUTCHER