Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
97STATE83213
1997-05-05 17:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN: SAUDI POLCOUNS SAYS THEY STILL
how-toP 051738Z MAY 97 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY INFO AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY TASHKENT AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BISHKEK AMEMBASSY ALMATY AMEMBASSY CAIRO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY MBABANE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 083213
LONDON FOR TUELLER, PARIS FOR RAVELING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/07
TAGS: PTER PGOV SA AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: SAUDI POLCOUNS SAYS THEY STILL
WANT BIN LADEN
ROME FOR DEMPSEY, MBABANE FOR DCM
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 083213
LONDON FOR TUELLER, PARIS FOR RAVELING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/07
TAGS: PTER PGOV SA AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: SAUDI POLCOUNS SAYS THEY STILL
WANT BIN LADEN
ROME FOR DEMPSEY, MBABANE FOR DCM
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY ROBIN L. RAPHEL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
REASON 1.5(D).
2. (C) DURING THE COURSE OF A 4/29 TELCON, SAUDI POLITICAL
COUNSELOR RAHAB MASSOUD AFFIRMED TO SA A/S RAPHEL THAT THE
SAG'S FIRST PRIORITY IS TO GET THE TALIBAN TO HAND OVER TO
THEM OSAMA BIN LADEN. THEIR SECOND PRIORITY IS TO KEEP BIN
LADEN FROM DIRECTING OPERATIONS OR HAVING ACCESS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND TO OTHER RADICAL ISLAMISTS. THE
SAUDIS WERE GREATLY UPSET BY THE SPATE OF MEDIA INTERVIEWS
AND ARTICLES THAT APPEARED WHEN BIN LADEN WAS IN THE
JALALABAD AREA. THEY DISCUSSED BIN LADEN'S MEDIA ACCESS
WITH THE TALIBAN. THE SAG IS HOPEFUL THAT THE TALIBAN
DECISION TO MOVE BIN LADEN CLOSE TO TALIBAN HEADQUARTERS IN
KANDAHAR WILL EFFECTIVELY KEEP BIN LADEN ISOLATED, AWAY
FROM THE MEDIA AND UNDER TALIBAN CONTROL.
3. (C) RAHAB ALSO SAID THEY ARE PRESSING THE TALIBAN ON
VARIOUS FRONTS -- POLITICALLY, RELIGIOUSLY AND LEGALLY --
ON THEIR DEALINGS WITH BIN LADEN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAUDIS
HAVE SENT A DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS EXPERTS TO DISCUSS
ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE WITH THE TALIBAN AND, PRESUMABLY, TO
OFFER THEM ISLAM-BASED JUSTIFICATIONS FOR TURNING BIN LADEN
OVER TO THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT.
TALBOTT
LONDON FOR TUELLER, PARIS FOR RAVELING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/07
TAGS: PTER PGOV SA AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: SAUDI POLCOUNS SAYS THEY STILL
WANT BIN LADEN
ROME FOR DEMPSEY, MBABANE FOR DCM
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY ROBIN L. RAPHEL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
REASON 1.5(D).
2. (C) DURING THE COURSE OF A 4/29 TELCON, SAUDI POLITICAL
COUNSELOR RAHAB MASSOUD AFFIRMED TO SA A/S RAPHEL THAT THE
SAG'S FIRST PRIORITY IS TO GET THE TALIBAN TO HAND OVER TO
THEM OSAMA BIN LADEN. THEIR SECOND PRIORITY IS TO KEEP BIN
LADEN FROM DIRECTING OPERATIONS OR HAVING ACCESS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND TO OTHER RADICAL ISLAMISTS. THE
SAUDIS WERE GREATLY UPSET BY THE SPATE OF MEDIA INTERVIEWS
AND ARTICLES THAT APPEARED WHEN BIN LADEN WAS IN THE
JALALABAD AREA. THEY DISCUSSED BIN LADEN'S MEDIA ACCESS
WITH THE TALIBAN. THE SAG IS HOPEFUL THAT THE TALIBAN
DECISION TO MOVE BIN LADEN CLOSE TO TALIBAN HEADQUARTERS IN
KANDAHAR WILL EFFECTIVELY KEEP BIN LADEN ISOLATED, AWAY
FROM THE MEDIA AND UNDER TALIBAN CONTROL.
3. (C) RAHAB ALSO SAID THEY ARE PRESSING THE TALIBAN ON
VARIOUS FRONTS -- POLITICALLY, RELIGIOUSLY AND LEGALLY --
ON THEIR DEALINGS WITH BIN LADEN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAUDIS
HAVE SENT A DELEGATION OF RELIGIOUS EXPERTS TO DISCUSS
ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE WITH THE TALIBAN AND, PRESUMABLY, TO
OFFER THEM ISLAM-BASED JUSTIFICATIONS FOR TURNING BIN LADEN
OVER TO THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT.
TALBOTT