Cablegate: Prt Chaghcharan: Pasaband and Dolina District

VZCZCXRO9483
OO RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPW RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #2355/01 2040713
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 230713Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9238
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002355

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82 POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP MOPS MASS PGOV PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT CHAGHCHARAN: PASABAND AND DOLINA DISTRICT
PATROLS

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: PRT Chaghcharan conducted a patrol
of Pasaband and Dolina Districts from July 4-7,
meeting with district officials, police, and elders.
Residents of both districts praised the work of the
ANP. Development issues were the main concern for
residents who thanked the PRT for its work but wanted
more attention from the GoA and the international
community. END SUMMARY

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PASABAND - STABLE, BUT CONTINUED TB INFILTRATION
--------------------------------------------- ---

2. (SBU) Pasaband District Chief of Police (CoP),
Haji Noorali, welcomed the PRT team on July 4. Having
assumed the post six weeks earlier, Noorali described
a recent engagement near the village of Pirak where
his ANP forces killed two TB and captured eight
others. He said villagers from the area alerted the
ANP to the TB location so they could intercept the
group, an estimated 40 fighters. After two TB leaders
- Abadallah and Mullah Kamal - were captured, the
remaining fighters abandoned the area, leaving behind
rifles, machineguns, and motorcycles. The two
prisoners disclosed the location of a weapons storage
area near Khona village on the Helmand border where
the ANP recovered 28 mines and multiple canisters of
machinegun ammunition.

3. (SBU) Noorali said he was working hard to gain the
confidence of the local population, who welcome tough
action against the TB. He reported that villagers are
providing accurate information about TB elements in
Pasaband and even Helmand. He identified small roads
and foot paths where he and his staff believe the TB
are crossing into Pasaband from Helmand. Noorali
expressed confidence that his force of 70 ANP can
handle these incursions with this intelligence, but
said additional equipment (at least two more heavy
machine guns PKMs and at least two more Ford Ranger
police vehicles, in addition to more AK ammunition
magazinges) was needed to increase ANP capability and
to halt the incursions.

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PASABAND SHURA
--------------

4. (SBU) PRToff and Patrol Commander conducted a
Shura on July 5, with over 30 district elders. Elders
expressed support for Noorali personally and his
aggressive actions against TB elements, downplayed the
significance of the TB incursions, and welcomed more
PRT and NGO activity in Pasaband. They highlighted
the activity and good relations of the NGO MADERA.
(Note: MADERA is a French NGO that works in animal
husbandry, irrigation, cash for work (roads), and
school construction. End Note.) Elders expressed
appreciation for PRT/NGO efforts to build two schools
in the area but wanted assistance to improve the small
district clinic and more trained teachers. They said
Pasaband residents supported the government but were
disappointed that provincial authorities rarely
visited the district. They encouraged more PRT
visits. The patrol also traveled to Zamina Ghar and
Sangan villages, where teachers and village leaders
echoed the comments of the Shura elders.

---------------
DOLINA DISTRICT
---------------

5. (SBU) The PRT patrol met with district
administrator Barajudin and CoP Sadadin who indicated
the security situation is good. No TB elements are
active in Dolina, and the people support the GoA.
Barajudin said small tribal disputes cause occasional
problems but the district's ANP force had performed

KABUL 00002355 002 OF 002

well and these incidents do not threaten the stability
of the district. He noted that many residents were
involved in road improvement projects, which has
improved the district's economy and greatly reduced
travel time to Chaghcharan. Barajudin said the
development support in Dolina was good and they were
pleased that a school had been finished and a district
center was nearing completion.

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ANP TRAINING
------------

6. (SBU) In both Pasaband and Dolina the Police
Mentoring Program (PMT) conducted live fire and other
training with district ANP. The PMT now uses a cadre
of ANP trainers to instruct basic police tactics at
the district facilities, thereby eliminating travel to
Chaghcharan and ensuring training is tailored to the
need of the district. In Dolina, the CoP said his men
lack weapons training, so this was the main focus. In
Pasaband, PMT provided requested training in vehicle
stops, searches, and patrols. PMT training is also an
opportunity for the PRT to identify areas of
improvement for district ANP. (Note: Often the PRT
discovers supply discrepancies between police
headquarters in Chaghcharan and district police
stations. End Note.) In both Dolina and Pasaband, ANP
stations requested two vehicles and additional heavy
weapons to expand their patrol efforts and basic
materials (i.e. pots-pans-utensils-bedding) to improve
the quality of life of the ANP staff. The district
CoPs worked with the PMT to develop lists of needed
equipment so the PMT can work with the Ghor ANP Chief
to address the shortages.

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COMMENT
-------

7. (SBU) Officials, elders and residents of Pasaband
and Dolina communicated that the security in their
districts is stable and can support increased
development. ANP leadership and staff are confident
that they can counter TB incursions and, from every
indication, enjoy good support among the population.
Increased development is the major concern in both
districts. The PRT's challenge is to get the new
Governor and his representatives out to the districts
to engage with the population.
WOOD

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