OPERATION MOSHTARAK - SITUATIONAL UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 14,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000567

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV EAID AF

SUBJECT: OPERATION MOSHTARAK - SITUATIONAL UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 14,
2010

REF: (A) KABUL 554, (B) KABUL 543, (C) KABUL 466, (D) KABUL 115, (E)
09 KABUL 4187


1. (SBU) Summary. Operations continued on February 14, with the
heaviest activity taking place in northern Marjah, but media reports
have remained extremely positive about the current status of
Operation Moshtarak. Governor Mangal convened a budget conference
in Lashkar Gah to develop line-item operational budgets and capital
investments required to deliver the agreed upon packages of services
for Nad Ali District. Deputy Governor Sattar announced the upcoming
registration for a cash-for-work program to a well-attended shura in
northern Nad Ali in the Showal area, where attendees expressed
concern over the security situation in their district but remained
enthusiastic about the overall situation. A ministerial delegation
from Kabul arrived in Lashkar Gah today to discuss the operations
with provincial and district leadership and to bring central
government support for the future outcomes. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Operations continued in Nad Ali district on February 14,
with the heaviest activity taking place in northern Marjah. ISAF
reporting indicates that the enemy is trying to flee to Nawa and
Pakistan. The following is a situation report, reflecting the
activities taking place on February 14, 2010.

POLITICAL UPDATE
--------------

Provincial:


3. (SBU) In north Nad Ali, Helmand Deputy Governor Sattar hosted a
successful shura, attended by over 200 village elders and residents.
The main topic of discussion was the latest security situation in
the district, but the residents remained confident in the operations
and looked forward to upcoming development opportunities to begin,
strongly requesting for schools and clinics to be placed in their
area. Sattar also announced that registration for a "Cash for Work"
program would begin within the next few days, to the delight of the
shura attendees.


4. (SBU) The civilian personnel at the Regimental Combat Team (RCT)
at FOB Dwyer have established a briefing, twice daily, for Nad Ali
Deputy District Governor Haji Zahir (who will be located in Marjah)
on the on-going operations, including any items of note on the ISAF,
ANSF, enemy and civilian casualties. Additionally, Zahir is in
constant communication with Mangal's office daily.

National:


5. (SBU) In a strong showing of central government support, a
ministerial delegation - which included Interior Minister Atmar,
Deputy Interior Minister Mangal, Defense Minister Wardak, and Deputy
Defense Minister Bismullah Khan - traveled to Helmand with Commander
of the ISAF Joint Command to meet with provincial and district
leadership and to view the conflict area. Hosted by Governor
Mangal, the delegation will participate in a series of meetings to
be fully briefed on the latest of Operation Moshtarak and the next
steps forward.

MEDIA
--------------


6. (SBU) The international media continued to be positive in its
assessment of the operation, with the only negative news being the
late-breaking statement by President Karzai on the alleged civilian
casualty incident in Marjah. Reporters are showing increased
interest in the civilian story, with such outlets as CNN, the
Associated Press and the Financial Times calling to ask about plans
for governance and stabilization in Marjah. They are fascinated by
the degree of planning and coordination involved in the
stabilization effort, including the fact that the Deputy District
Governor-Designate and the future District Support Team are already
working together and poised to enter as soon as conditions permit.
The PRT Lashkar Gah Lead gave a five-minute live interview on Sky
News, answering questions on the civilian effort. The Afghan-run
Tolo TV has been running an excellent piece that explains the entire
operation, including extensive quotations from Governor Mangal and
several Afghan generals.

GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
--------------


7. (SBU) At the February 14 Helmand District Delivery Program (DDP)
Budget Workshop, USAID-funded trainers from the re-launched
provincial Civil Service Institute facilitated Ministry Directors to
develop line-item operational budgets and capital investments
required to deliver the agreed upon packages of services for Nad Ali

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District. Directors were grouped according to the eight strands of
the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and were mentored by
PRT staff. As expected, operating budgets and capital requests were
significant -though most were tempered with reality. However,
expectation management is key at this point, and the PRT will work
with the various provincial and district officials to ensure full
understanding of all stabilization and development initiatives.


8. (SBU) The next step in Helmand's DDP process is the collation and
summarization of budgets, which is being completed by local
Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) staff. Then,
the Governor and Provincial Development Council (PDC) will approve.
Once this approval is obtained, the "donor conference" is likely to
be held on or about February 17. The objective for this conference
will be to secure donor commitments for as many capital investments
(schools, clinics, office buildings, vehicles, etc.) from the
various civilian and military funding streams. Capital expenses not
picked up by donors will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for
funding by the UK under their DDP support mechanism. For USAID, the
donor conference is about matching existing USAID programming to new
ministry requests for development items apart from buildings in Nad
Ali.


9. (SBU) At the Governor's request, Helmand PRT is planning a Nadi
Ali Stabilization launch event on or about February 18 in Lashkar
Gah. High-level Embassy participation by USAID Mission Director
Bill Frej is planned to demonstrate sustained civilian support for
Governor Mangal's efforts, with plans by the UK and Danish
Governments to do the same. The event plans to cover the entire
civilian effort, with the Governor taking the lead and introducing
the ongoing DDP process and other projects, including USAID's 601
road through Marjah.

IDP UPDATE
--------------


10. (SBU) To date, the Department of Refugees and Repatriation in
Lashkar Gah has registered 941 internally displaced families, and
approximately 200 families received humanitarian assistance from the
Department. (Note: Of the total number of registered families,
only two families have requested tents for shelter purposes, which
mean that most families are able to find adequate shelter during
these operations with GIRoA assistance. End note.) As the fighting
likely increases, the number of IDP families is expected to also
increase, but the PRT is continuing to work with the UN and the
Helmand Department of Refugees and Repatriation to prepare for any
sudden upticks in numbers.


11. (U) This cable was drafted by the U.S. civilian personnel based
in Helmand.