ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ANSF TRAINERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000051

SIPDIS

SCA/A FOR ANTHONY RUSH;
EUR/RPM FOR RAPHAEL CARLAND AND AARON COPE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2030
TAGS: MASS PREL NATO
SUBJECT: ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ANSF TRAINERS

REF: STATE 014366

Classified By: Political Officer Dan Rakove for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings with PM Batbold and
President Elbegdorj, the Ambassador expressed appreciation
for the role Mongolian forces have continued to play in
Afghanistan and covered reftel demarche points on the need
for additional trainers. The PM expressed interest in the
idea and said the government will look closely at what is
possible. Subsequently, the DATT heard forward-leaning
feedback when he discussed the same demarche points with
Mongolia's Border Protection Agency. End summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador took advantage of previously scheduled
separate meetings with Prime Minister Batbold and President
Elgbegdorj February 19 to raise demarche points about further
opportunities for ISAF partners to send operational and
liaison teams to Afghanistan to improve the security climate
(reftel). Batbold and Elbegdorj expressed interest in the
idea. The Prime Minister told the Ambassador that his
government would look closely at what is possible. Both the
Prime Minister and President are on Mongolia's National
Security Council, a body which would need to rule favorably
on dispatching troops overseas.


3. (C) Also on February 19, the DATT discussed demarche
points with with Brigadier General Lkhagvasuren, Principal
Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Border Forces,
Border Protection Agency of Mongolia. Lkhagvasuren expressed
considerable interest in possibly contributing Police
Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLTs) to the
Afghanistan mission. He advised the DATT that the senior
leadership of the Border Forces would take the information
provided into serious and positive consideration, and look
into possible Border Forces involvement in Afghanistan.


4. (C) Lkhagvasuren requested as much information on what the
teams would look like, their roles and personnel composition,
and when they would be needed. He noted that many Border
Forces personnel were fluent in Russian and that they could
assist in working with more senior members of the Afghan
National Security Forces, who may be Russian speakers as
well. A number of Border Forces officers and NCOs are also
competent in English and would be able to conduct liaison
with ISAF and U.S. Operation Enduring Freedom forces in
English.


5. (C) DATT noted that the Border Forces may very well be in
an excellent position to provide police operational mentor
and liaison teams. Mongolia's Border Forces, formerly part
of the Mongolian Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defense,
have for well over a decade fallen under the Ministry of
Justice and Home Affairs. They are a militarily organized
and uniformed disciplined force of approximately 13,500
soldiers who conduct border and border zone security for
Mongolia. Over 80 have participated in Mongolian Armed
Forces deployments in Iraq and in support of UN peacekeeping
operations, including in Sierra Leone.


6. (C) In discussions with the Commanding General of the
Border Forces in January of 2010, the DATT had been informed
that the Border Forces were seeking opportunities to
participate in UN and international peace support operations.
At least some of the equipment and weaponry both forces use
is similarly older Russian equipment, and Mongolian deployed
in support of OIF and OEF are used to working with a mix of
US and Russian equipment. The Border Forces also have arrest
authority when conducting area security missions within
Mongolia's border protection zones, so in many respects their
role is quite parallel to that of the Afghan National
Security Force.
HILL