KARZAI VISIT TO HELMAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000115 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INR/B STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA USFOR-A FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MOPS UK AF SUBJECT: KARZAI VISIT TO HELMAND REF: A. (A) 09 KABUL 4187 ¶B. (B) 09 KABUL 3286 ¶C. (C) 09 KABUL 2940 ¶D. (D) 08 KABUL 3030 Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During a January 2 visit to Helmand Province, President Karzai engaged warmly with Helmandis, demonstrating leadership as a wartime President. In the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, regional government officials gave the Afghan President, accompanied by ISAF Commander General McChrystal, an upbeat briefing on development activities. During a meeting with more than 300 elders, Karzai urged the people of Helmand to send their sons into the Afghan security forces and affirmed his commitment to Coalition Force deployments into the South. Karzai's staff told us they hope this visit will be the first of many similar efforts to get him out to the Provinces during his second term. Karzai's words on local Helmand politics, however, seemed to undercut the current governor who has a stand-out record. End Summary. The Long Sought Karzai Visit -------------- ¶2. (U) President Karzai, members of his cabinet and COMISAF General McChrystal visited Lashkar Gah and Nawa District Center in Helmand Province on January 2, receiving a warm reception from a large contingent of Helmand dignitaries. In Lashkar Gah, they participated in a Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting, a shura of local elders and a lunch hosted by the Provincial Council. Governor Mangal had sought the visit for the past year to showcase developments in governance and economic revitalization in the provincial capital. At the PDC meeting, Mangal gave an upbeat presentation of the progress achieved in Helmand over the past 20 months and the Line Directors for the Ministries of Health and Education gave detailed overviews of their development efforts and the challenges they face in Helmand. The Shura -------------- ¶3. (C/REL US, ISAF, NATO) In a two hour long shura with local elders, Karzai urged them to become much more involved in security issues and to have their sons join the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF),support the national government and his Presidency. His call for greater support of the ANSF was well received and reflects the strong local support for the Afghan National Army (ANA). He did not, however, refer to the upcoming Marjah operations, which are expected to be difficult and will impact local powerbrokers and narco-traffickers. Playing to local tribal and ethnic leaders, Karzai made repeated mention (more than 25 times) of former Helmand Governor and current Senator Sher Mohammad Akhunzada (SMA),highlighting his record as Governor. (Note: Karzai has long believed that SMA is the answer to stability in Helmand; however, SMA's tenure as governor (2001-2005) was characterized by maladministration and abuses of power. He was removed from office at the insistence of the UK after evidence surfaced about his involvement in narcotics trafficking (Ref D). End Note). Governor Mangal expressed disappointment to Helmand PRT officer that Karzai never publicly recognized his strong work during the past 20 months on governance and development. Highlighting Nawa Progress -------------- ¶4. (U) In Nawa, one of the District Delivery Program (DDP) priority districts (Ref B),Karzai met with the District Governor and toured the immediate area. Karzai seemed generally surprised at the level of security and development in and around the District Center and readily engaged with numerous locals. Area residents expressed support for the international effort, with particular emphasis on the American role in Nawa, and welcomed sustained support from the Afghan Government to improve the local health, education and economic systems. Karzai Staff Pleased With Visit -------------- ¶5. (C/REL US, ISAF, NATO) In a subsequent January 5 conversation with Deputy Ambassador Ricciardone, Karzai's Chief of Staff Omer Daudzai expressed satisfaction with the Helmand visit and its perceived success both with the locals KABUL 00000115 002 OF 002 and in the media. Daudzai related the portion of Karzai's speech at the shura wherein he pointed to COMISAF saying: "I support Obama's plan because this man here was the author and he has made the protection of Afghan civilians his number one priority." After Ambassador Ricciardone encouraged more such travel by Karzai, Daudzai observed that Karzai frequently berated him for not scheduling more travel to the regions. Ambassador Ricciardone recommended that Karzai make use of either ISAF or the ever-improving Afghan Air Corps, noting the benefits of direct engagement with the people of his country, and the opportunities for engagement presented by Karzai's natural charisma. Daudzai acknowledged that this kind of engagement was becoming easier for Karzai and his advisors are working on getting him out to the provinces more. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C/REL US, ISAF, NATO) On his second trip to RC-South in his second term, President Karzai's engagement in the conflict-ridden province made a favorable impression on many area residents, demonstrating leadership in combating the insurgency and expanding the reach of the GIRoA. His pleas to Afghans in the south to "give (their) sons to the ANSF" was a very positive message that we will use this to press for more local ANA and ANP recruits from Helmand. However, Karzai missed an opportunity to lead the public to focus on the ongoing and planned security operations for Nad Ali and Marja. As indicated Ref A, we will work with ISAF and the UK mission to press for strong public support for the operations in that area. While Governor Mangal was pleased with the event coordination, he expressed disappointment that he had received no thanks from Karzai publicly or privately, despite having asked him for a public statement, even as Karzai repeatedly endorsed SMA. UK Ambassador Sedwill told Ambassador Eikenberry January 10 that the UK was very unhappy with Karzai's treatment of Mangal and statements about foreign troops, although it had been "worthwhile" to get Karzai to the region. Mangal continues to work closely with the PRT and ISAF on Marjah planning (in late 2009, the U.S. also signaled Mangal out for a $10 million development project grant for his Counter Narcotics successes),but he will have little ability to influence Karzai's public posture on the operation. EIKENBERRY