CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING MARJAH

S E C R E T KABUL 000726 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: 02/20/2020 TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCRM MOPS PREL AF SUBJECT: CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING MARJAH SUB-DISTRICT GOVERNOR HAJI ZAHIR Classified By: IPA Deputy Coordinator Hoyt Yee, for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) Summary. As Operation Moshtarak within Nad Ali district began in mid-February, rumors of criminal allegations surrounding the Marjah Sub-District Governor Haji Zahir and his time in Germany began to surface. Upon hearing these allegations, Regional Platform)South (RP-S) and the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, Helmand initiated an investigation into these claims through Interpol, which now has confirmed that the criminal charges and a conviction against Zahir. Following the confirmation of these allegations, RP-South and the PRT brought this information to Helmand Governor Mangal, who reconfirmed with Zahir that he has a criminal record in Germany, where he served approximately five years in prison, starting in 1997 for attempted manslaughter, and was subsequently deported to Pakistan in 2003. Despite the low-level status given to the position of sub-district governor for Marjah and the fact that Zahir's appointment to the position is only on a temporary basis, Mangal told RP-S and PRT personnel that he will move to fire Zahir. RP-South and the PRT will continue to follow this situation and will support Mangal on his decisions with his staff. End Summary. Allegations Surface -------------- ¶2. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) Immediately following the launch of Operation Moshtarak in Nad Ali district, Helmand, on February 13, rumors surrounding the appointment of Haji Zahir to the position of Sub-District Governor for the Marjah area began to surface. The rumors, which alleged a criminal past for Zahir while living in Germany, prompted personnel at both Regional Platform)South (RP-S) and the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Helmand to initiate an investigation through Interpol to determine the veracity of these claims. Confirmation of Prison Sentence -------------- ¶3. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) RP-S and the PRT now have confirmation through the German police services that Zahir was convicted of attempted manslaughter in Germany in 1997, involving his male teenage step-child. RP-S and the PRT understand that Zahir served five years in a German prison and was then deported in 2003 to Pakistan. Under the terms of Zahir's deportation, he is not allowed to reenter Germany until 2018. ¶4. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) Since Zahir was appointed by Helmand Governor Mangal into the low-level position of Marjah Sub-District Governor on a temporary basis, RP-S and PRT personnel immediately provided Governor Mangal with this information. Mangal, who was not aware of Zahir's past when he made the appointment confronted Zahir with the information, which Zahir confirmed. RP-S and the PRT told Mangal that the confirmation of these allegations is troubling and casts unwanted doubt on the current military campaign in Nad Ali. Mangal agreed with these concerns, saying that he would not tolerate someone with a past like Zahir's on his team and would move to replace him as soon as possible. Comment -------------- ¶5. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) RP-S and the PRT are well aware of the sensitivities surrounding Haji Zahir and his position within the current ISAF military and civilian campaigns. However, it is important to also understand that the appointment of Zahir should, in no way, reflect poorly on Governor Mangal and his service to his province during this trying time. The position of sub-district governor is a low-level position, and Mangal intended Zahir's appointment to be on a temporary basis. RP-S and the PRT will continue to work with Mangal, his provincial staff, and the Nad Ali district government as we push forward with Operation Moshtarak and stabilization efforts in Marjah. EIKENBERRY