Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RIYADH155
2010-02-03 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

KARZAI TO THE KING: I NEED YOUR HELP

Tags:  PREL PGOV AF PK SA 
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VZCZCXRO5343
PP RUEHDH
DE RUEHRH #0155/01 0341439
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031439Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2435
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0323
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4829
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0589
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN PRIORITY 0478
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000155 

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, S/SRAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF PK SA
SUBJECT: KARZAI TO THE KING: I NEED YOUR HELP

REF: RIYADH 136

RIYADH 00000155 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000155

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, S/SRAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF PK SA
SUBJECT: KARZAI TO THE KING: I NEED YOUR HELP

REF: RIYADH 136

RIYADH 00000155 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Afghan President Hamid Karzai traveled to Riyadh for
a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah on February 3. Karzai's
visit comes a week after his speech at the London Afghanistan
Conference, where he called upon the Saudis to assist in
facilitating the Afghan reconciliation process. As Karzai
seeks attention, the Saudis are playing it cool. FM Saud
Al-Faisal's straightforward statement at the London
Conference made it clear Saudi involvement would only come
with certain conditions. While this statement is fairly
straightforward, our discussions with Saudi leaders indicate
their actual position may be somewhat more nuanced. While
it's unlikely Karzai's visit will result in any real
breakthrough, one of their conditions--a formal request for
the King to assist--has now been met. END SUMMARY.


FIRST UMRAH, THEN A MEETING WITH THE KING
--------------


2. (U) Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Saudi Arabia
on February 2, accompanied by the newly named Afghan Foreign
Minister, Zalmay Rasoul. He was met at the airport by the
Mayor of Jeddah, Prince Mishal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz.
Karzai performed the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Mecca before
traveling to Riyadh, where he was scheduled to have an
audience with the King the next day. Afghan Ambassador to
Saudi Arabia Aziz Karzai attended all meetings with Karzai.
Reuters reported that Karzai had also planned to meet with
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to discuss an OIC
role in reconciliation, but that this meeting was canceled.


KARZAI ASKS FOR HELP
--------------


3. (U) Karzai,s trip follows his statement at the January 28
London Conference on Afghanistan, where he asked the SAG to
"play a role, to guide peace, and assist the process" of
reconciliation with the Taliban. FM Saud Al-Faisal,s
official response was broadly supportive of the
reconciliation process, but stopped short of offering any
direct Saudi involvement in reconciliation talks. The SAG
would continue to support Afghanistan's reconstruction and

development, FM Saud said, pledging an additional $150
million USD in aid (reftel). However, any talks with the
Taliban "would be a fruitless exercise" as long as the
Taliban leadership still sheltered and supported Al-Qaeda.
The Saudis would be willing to assist in mediation at the
request of President Karzai; however, the Taliban first had
to sever its relationship with Al-Qaeda and cease providing
refuge to its leaders.


THE SAUDIS PLAY IT COOL
--------------


4. (U) President Karzai and his spokespeople have been
playing up the trip, making no secret of their plans to ask
the King for his help in mediating with the Taliban.
Official Saudi media have been more low key, with second page
coverage of Karzai's arrival in Jeddah in most major
Arabic-language dailies and MFA officials telling us it was
simply a "cordial" visit.


MEDIA OPINIONS ARE SPLIT
--------------


5. (U) The Saudi media appears split as to whether Afghan
mediation is a good idea. In a February 2 editorial entitled
"Rescue or Entanglement," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Chief Editor
Tariq Al-Humayd urged caution before entering into any
further Taliban mediation efforts. He reminded readers that
negotiations with the Taliban had faltered in the past, and
even the "much admired" former GIP head, Prince Turki
Al-Faisal, was unable to convince the Taliban to hand over
Osama bin Laden. It was natural for the Afghans to turn to
the KSA for help, Al-Humayd continued, but the SAG should be
wary of becoming entangled in internal Afghan affairs.

RIYADH 00000155 002 OF 002




6. (U) In another column in the same newspaper, columnist
Mohammed Diab called President Karzai,s call for Saudi
involvement "long overdue," adding that Saudi Arabia was the
country "most capable" of assisting the Afghan reconciliation
effort. FM Saud,s insistence that the Taliban renounce
Al-Qaeda connections was "logical," Diab continued, and the
onus was on the Taliban to accept these preconditions and
grab this "last chance."


SAUDIS LOOKING FOR "REASONABLE DEGREE OF ASSURANCE"
-------------- --------------


7. (C) In a February 3 meeting with DCM that focused on
Iran (septel),Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral
Relations Dr. Khalid Al-Jindan commented on President
Karzai,s visit, adding that he and FM Saud had just spoken
with Karzai about the challenges facing Afghanistan last week
in London. Karzai clearly hoped Saudi Arabia could play a
major role in both reconciliation and development. As FM
Saud,s statement had made clear, the Saudis were willing to
help on certain terms. In Al-Jindan,s view, the Saudis were
"probably willing to play a greater role," but required a
"reasonable degree of assurance" that any Taliban elements
they engaged with were truly moderates, with no ties to
Al-Qaeda. Al-Jindan anticipated that the King and Karzai
would discuss Saudi expectations in further detail during
their meeting that day.


8. (C) In addition, Al-Jindan said the King would likely
reiterate the Saudi view that political reconciliation was
essential, and that there was "no military solution" to the
Afghan problem. It was important to isolate moderate
elements of the Taliban and bring them back into the
political process; give greater power to the Pashtun
community and allow them to return to their "natural"
leadership role; and encourage development so that the
ordinary Afghan would have a "reason to opt for peace." They
were concerned with government corruption, Al-Jindan
continued, but there was a need to distinguish between
"worthwhile expenditures" aimed at gaining loyalty of certain
tribes and actual corruption in the Afghan context.


COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Karzai and his spokespeople have been playing up the
visit, making no secret that he plans to ask for the King,s
support in mediating with the Taliban. FM Saud,s statement
at the London conference remains the definitive official
Saudi position: the Saudis support reconciliation and would
be willing to assist at the request of President Karzai;
however, the Taliban must sever its relationship with
Al-Qaeda and cease providing refuge to its leaders. While
this statement is fairly straightforward, the Saudi position
behind the scenes may be more nuanced. Al-Jindan's
assessment that the Saudis need a "reasonable degree of
assurance" suggests the Saudis may be more flexible than they
are willing to publicly appear. As usual, they appear to be
holding their foreign policy cards close to the chest.


10. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: While Karzai,s trip is unlikely
to result in any major breakthrough, the fact he visited and
very publicly asked the King officially for his help does
satisfy one of the Saudis, criteria for engagement. Post
will follow up with the Afghan Embassy in Riyadh for
additional details of the visit next week. END COMMENT.
SMITH