AFGHAN MINISTERS TALK COUNTERNARCOTICS IN VIENNA

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000003

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM PREL EUN NATO AF IR CA GM JA PK SW UN

SUBJECT: AFGHAN MINISTERS TALK COUNTERNARCOTICS IN VIENNA

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) On the margins of the Paris Pact meeting in Vienna on
December 15-16, Ambassador and DCM met with Afghanistan's Minister
of Counternarcotics General Khodaidad, Deputy Minister of Interior
General Daud Daud, and other Afghan officials. The Ministers
complained about the lack of counternarcotics funding from nations
other than the U.S., stressed the importance of "quick, visible"
rewards to discourage poppy cultivation, described their goal for
eradication in 2009, and expressed their concern over the lack of
ISAF action, against drug targets and the slow progress in
cooperation efforts with Iran and Pakistan. Ambassador informed
them that UNVIE had been engaging Canada and Germany on the Good
Performers Initiative (GPI),which should resonate with these
countries' counter-narcotics policies that are focused on "soft"
measures (development assistance) rather than hard measures
(eradication). Ambassador also suggested that the Afghans engage
Sweden, which is interested in intensifying its work in Afghanistan.
End Summary.

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U.S. "Only Contributor"
to CN in Afghanistan
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2. (SBU) Minister Khodaidad and Deputy Minister Daud said that for
the past year and a half only the U.S. had contributed to
counternarcotics and they were deeply grateful. This support
included their ability to travel to the provinces and meet with
governors and key officials that can have an impact on
counternarcotics. Khodaidad expressed concern for the lack of
interest in funding the counternarcotics effort among others in the
donor community. In particular, he cited the need for more support
from the EU, EC, Japan, and Canada. Ambassador informed that UNVIE
has been engaging Canada and Germany on GPI. The program should
resonate with countries like these because their counternarcotics
policies tend to focus on "soft" measures (development assistance)
rather than hard measures (eradication). In addition to engaging
those states, Ambassador also suggested that the Afghans engage
Sweden as the Foreign Minister is interested in intensifying his
government's work in Afghanistan.

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Need to Increase Quick Impact Projects
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3. (SBU) When asked about the situation in the south, Khodaidad
explained that a lot of funding has been provided to Helmand,
Kandahar, and Oruzgan over the years by partner nations to combat
narcotics, but the impact has been minimal in deterring further
cultivation. In his view, infrastructure takes 15-20 years to put in
place, not quick enough to reward farmers who turn away from poppy.
He added that Afghans do not like to grow poppy and do so under
pressure from Taliban, traffickers, or from dire economic
circumstances. Therefore, he said, visible and quick rewards from
governors can have a profound impact. Khodaidad believes in the need
to publicize the fact that development assistance is provided as a
reward for the Afghans' stance against poppy cultivation. He is
engaging other ministries to publicize their projects/assistance in
this perspective. Daud expressed appreciation for information on
drug trafficking provided by the U.S. and U.K., which resulted in
arrests in Nimroz province. Both Ministers stated that significant
proceeds from the drug trade ("black money") are being deposited in
Dubai and Switzerland.

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Progress on Eradication Preparations
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4. (SBU) Daud said that the Poppy Eradication Force (PEF) and
Counter Narcotics Infantry Kandak (CNIK) had begun joint operations
training on December 14 and that they planned to deploy to Helmand
and Farah. Their eradication goal for 2009 is "206,000 hectares" (he
probably meant 20,600 or 26,000 hectares). They were confident that
governor led eradication (GLE) would take place this year in
Kandahar and Oruzgan. Daud said he expected 26-27 poppy free
provinces this year. In his view, a few million dollars in Good
Performers Initiative (GPI) rewards for each province is not enough.
He believed that $10-20 million per province were necessary. He
estimated that if this amount were made available through the GPI,
there would be no need for an eradication program. Ambassador
cautioned that the U.S. believes in a balanced approach of
incentives and disincentives.
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ISAF Support for CN Operations
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5. (SBU) Khodaidad expressed concern that ISAF forces had not
begun to target drug labs. He has made clear to partner nations
that the GOA is not inviting ISAF to support the police during
eradication, but only needs them for interdiction support. Still,
he feels the commitment made in Budapest (in October by the NATO
defense ministers) is not clear to many states. Ambassador added
that UNODC Executive Director Antonio Costa is one of the strongest
supporters of ISAF drug interdiction operations.

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Afghan Cooperation with
Pakistan and Iran
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6. (SBU) On cooperation with Pakistan and Iran, Minister Khodaidad
explained that progress was slow and communication occurred mainly
through the UN or UK. The respective ministries only communicate
via the international community but not face-to-face. This situation
is lamentable because 85% of the heroin is trafficked via Iran and
Pakistan and several major traffickers live in Iran. Recently 360
gallons of acetic anhydride (AA) were seized for the first time in
Iran. To advance Afghan-Iranian cooperation, the Ministry of
Counternarcotics is avoiding political issues and trying to engage
through technical cooperation.

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Comment
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7. (SBU) Given 2008 data, Daud's goals for eradication (even at
20,600 hectares) and poppy-free provinces (26-27) sounded ambitious.
Khodaidad, while expressing appreciation for U.S. assistance,
seemed concerned and unsure about re-engaging other partners on the
issue of counternarcotics. He obviously was eager for ISAF
participation in narcotics interdiction operations. Both ministers
recognized the link between reward and eradication, and the
importance of contributions to the Good Performers Initiative from
other partner nations. While Daud's plea for doubling the reward
for poppy-free provinces is understandable, he should also
understand that there should be a balance between incentives and
disincentives.

Schulte