This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 005050 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/FO AND SA/FO AMBASSADOR QUINN, NSC FOR 
AHARRIMAN AND KAMEND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2015 
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PREL PTER SNAR AF
SUBJECT: KARZAI PROMISES RESULTS ON CN, ASKS FOR GREATER 
COMMITMENT TO AL 
 
REF: KABUL 04887 
 
Classified By: ADCM ANGUS SIMMONS FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: President Karzai convened a meeting of his 
cabinet on December 11 to press for implementation of the 
GOA's Counter Narcotics (CN) strategy. In the meeting, Karzai 
addressed the disparity between UNODC's (21 percent 
reduction) and the USG's (48 percent reduction) survey 
results regarding opium cultivation in 2005, asking what he 
should say publicly. Reinforcing his previous statements, 
Karzai said that the GOA is committed to achieving an 
additional 20 percent reduction in cultivation in 2006 and 
said that continued delivery of Alternative Livelihoods (AL) 
programming is critical to achieving this goal. Karzai said, 
"we are taking this effort seriously this year, we must match 
last year's reduction figure." He expects that voluntary 
eradication will be necessary, corrupt officials who impede 
CN goals will be removed and traffickers will be arrested. 
Karzai continues to deliver a powerful message, what remains 
to be seen is whether this message has resonance in the 
provinces. The Embassy will continue to work with the GOA to 
ensure that it meets its CN goals. End Summary. 
 
Karzai Convenes Cabinet to Discuss CN Strategy 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (C) President Karzai convened a meeting of his cabinet on 
December 11 to discuss Counter Narcotics issues. In addition 
to the members of the Afghan cabinet, Minister of Counter 
Narcotics Qaderi, Ambassador Neumann, UK Ambassador Rosalyn 
Marsden, Embassy Kabul Counter Narcotics Task Force Director 
Doug Wankel, Alternative Livelihoods Director Beth Dunford 
and other members of the international community were also in 
attendance. 
 
¶3. (C) In the meeting, Karzai initiated a lively debate about 
which 2005 Opium Survey is correct. (UNODC's survey reports a 
21 percent reduction in cultivation and a 2 percent reduction 
in opium production the USG's cites a 48 percent reduction in 
cultivation and a 10 percent reduction in opium production). 
Ambassador Neumann suggested to Karzai that Karzai can cite 
the amount of cultivation in 2005 declined by at least 21 
percent maybe as high as 48 percent. CN Minister Qaderi said 
that the most important aspect of the survey debate is that 
for the first time UNODC and the USG have agreed to the 
baseline of approximately 104,000 hectares of opium 
cultivated in Afghanistan in 2005 (the USG estimate is 
slightly higher at 107,000). Karzai said he will use the 
larger figure publicly. 
 
¶4. (C) President Karzai said this year's reduction is 
significant because it occurred without damaging the Afghan 
economy. Echoing his previous statements, Karzai said that 
the GOA is committed to achieving an additional 20 percent 
reduction in 2006 and said that he would make a strong 
statement about reducing poppy cultivation at the first 
session of Parliament (scheduled for December 18). He said 
while eradication will be essential to achieve the 2006 
reduction target, the international community's  support and 
delivery of Alternative Livelihoods (AL) programming is also 
critical to achieving the GOA's CN goals. 
 
Delivering the CN message outside Kabul 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Recounting his recent visit to Kandahar (where he 
delivered a strong anti-poppy message) Karzai said, he 
learned two things on his trip: 1) farmers in Panjwayi, 
Maiwand and Gharez Districts are not planting poppy this year 
and 2) there are unknown people encouraging the farmers to 
plant poppy. Karzai said that the GOA will implement tough CN 
policies this year, including eradication. Minister Qaderi 
expressed concerns saying that while a recent UNODC informal 
survey (REFTEL) indicates that in some provinces opium 
cultivation may decline, other provinces will have increased 
opium cultivation and Afghanistan's overall opium cultivation 
may be higher in 2006. 
 
¶6. (C) Karzai asked CN Minister Qaderi what is being done to 
ensure the Provincial Governors are implementing the CN 
strategy. Qaderi responded that key governors are being 
summoned to Kabul to deliver their plans for eradication 
efforts. Karzai said that he wants additional radio addresses 
going out to the Afghan populace urging them not to grow and 
that he wants the governors to get a strong letter from the 
Afghan Ministry of Interior advising them that their efforts 
will be monitored and if they are deficient or unsuccessful, 
they will be brought to Kabul for an investigation. If they 
are found guilty of non-compliance with the GOA CN 
commitment, they will be dismissed. Karzai added, "we are 
taking this effort seriously this year, we must match last 
year's reduction figure." He also said that the GOA needs to 
be equally tough on those who participate in or support drug 
trafficking, including corrupt officials 
 
Key to Achieving CN Goals: AL Programming 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Karzai said, although he agrees that the eradication 
effort must be carried out, he thinks it equally important 
that the international community and the GOA improve delivery 
of AL programming to the provinces. In an effort to maximize 
donor contributions to AL, Karzai suggested that the 
international community minimize its use of contractors and 
NGOs to deliver such assistance. Ambassador Neumann told 
Karzai that the USG understands that it and other donors 
needs to deliver on AL but stressed that expectations must be 
realistic and added, that the responsibility for 
communication and coordination on AL programming lies with 
the concerned GOA Ministries. We can help, but it's their 
responsibility to let the provincial authorities and their 
constituents know what development projects have been done 
and where. 
 
¶8. (C) UK Ambassador Marsden said that the Counter Narcotics 
Trust Fund (CNTF) is now in place and significant funding has 
been contributed (18 million USD by the EC and soon 40 
million USD from the UK). Marsden advised President Karzai 
that the GOA can utilize the CNTF to contribute to AL 
projects. Karzai said that he thinks this a good idea. He 
said he does not support "quick impact" AL programs, but 
prefers to see long-term sustainable development. Karzai also 
asked that the international community do its part to 
purchase Afghan products, especially fruit grown by the 
farmers. Ambasasdor Neumann told Karzai that in order to 
ensure the success of AL agricultural endeavors, the Afghans 
must do more to improve the cleanliness and packaging of 
their goods. Ambassador Neumann also pointed out that there 
is a need for Afghan investment in small factories and this 
needs legal changes to encourage investment. Karzai agreed 
that more must be done to increase investment opportunities 
in Afghanistan and asked for international support. (Note: 
USAID Alternative Livelihoods programs have made significant 
progress in these areas. A cable detailing AL programs and 
their impact will follow SEPTEL) 
 
¶9. (C) President Karzai closed the session by saying that the 
GOA has to do a lot of "hard work" and must be "tough" to 
further reduce cultivation and ensure that it is a lasting 
reduction. He reiterated that the international community 
must deliver on its Alternative Livelihoods promise. Karzai 
said, "while I hate to use cliches...failure is not an option 
(for CN efforts)." He said that he expects to see 
eradication, he expects Governors to deliver, he expects that 
corrupt officials will be removed and traffickers will be 
arrested. Karzai reiterated that he would deliver a strong 
message during the opening session of Parliament and agreed 
to hold a special meeting on CN on the second day of 
Parliamentary sessions. CN Minister Qaderi suggested that one 
of the 13 agreed upon Standing Committees of Parliament 
should be dedicated to Counter Narcotics and Karzai agreed. 
 
Afghan Cabinet considers CN Law 
------------------------------- 
¶10. (C)  Ambassador Neumann thanked President Karzai for 
supporting the Counter Narcotics law and reminded him that 
there is a narrow window for the law to be enacted before the 
seating of Parliament. Karzai said that he knows that there 
are five days to finish the law in time for it to be issued 
by decree. 
 
 
¶12. (C) Comment: President Karzai convened this cabinet 
meeting on short notice in order to hold a CN meeting prior 
to the December 18 Parliamentary session. Karzai delivered a 
clear message to his cabinet and members of the international 
community that Afghanistan must succeed in its counter 
narcotics strategy, especially in the reduction of opium 
cultivation. He is concerned that international assistance 
willnot be sufficient to prevent a massive return to poppy 
cultivation if farmers feel promises have not been kept. He 
also made it clear that the Governors must have an enhanced 
role in implementation of this strategy and will be held 
accountable for its impact, or lack thereof. While Karzai 
continues to deliver a powerful message on CN, it remains to 
be seen whether he will back it up by removing corrupt 
officials and whether this message has resonance in the 
provinces. The Embassy will continue work with the GOA to 
ensure that it achieves its CN objectives. End Comment. 
 
 
 
NEUMANN