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C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000103 
 
 
DIA PASS TO DHO2, CENTCOM PASS TO CCJ5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019 
TAGS: AF MAS MCAP OVIP PGOV PREL TI
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER VISIT WITH TAJIK PRESIDENT 
 
Classified By: Tracey Jacobson, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Dushanbe, State. 
Reason 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary.  U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander 
David Petraeus completed his introductory visit to Tajikistan 
on 17 January 2009.  The meeting with President Emomali 
Rahmon, Foreign Policy Advisor Rahmattuloyev, Minister of 
Defense General-Colonel (U.S. 3-star equivalent) Sherali 
Khairulloyev, GKNB Chairman Khayriddin Abdurahimov, National 
Guard Commander General-Major (U.S. 1-star equivalent) 
Rajabali Rahmonali, and Border Guard Commander General-Major 
Sherali Mirzo, included discussions on the Northern 
Distribution Network, cooperation and support for 
Afghanistan, ongoing problems with Uzbekistan and hydropower, 
and a request for logistical support. 
End summary. 
 
Building Bridges:  Support for Coalition Efforts and NDN 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
¶2.  (C) President Rahmon opened the meeting by noting the 
longstanding, productive relationship he has had with 
USCENTCOM and expressing support for future cooperation.  He 
thanked General Petraeus for the training, equipment, and 
infrastructure provided by USCENTCOM, and said that he would 
fully support USCENTCOM's efforts to develop commercial 
shipping routes through Central Asia to Afghanistan. 
 
¶3.  (C) General Petraeus briefed Rahmon on developments in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, and noted the incoming administration's 
increased focus on Afghanistan.  He thanked the President for 
the broad blanket overflight permission for U.S. aircraft and 
for support of the French detachment at the Dushanbe 
airfield, remarking that everyone in the area shares a common 
interest in preventing the resurgence of the Taliban in 
Afghanistan. 
 
¶4.  (C) General Petraeus requested permission to send a team 
to assess potential transit routes in support of the Northern 
Distribution Network (NDN).  He introduced Rear Admiral 
Harnitchek from USTRANSCOM and stated that the Admiral was 
empowered to finalize agreements with Tajikistan on behalf of 
the United States concerning the NDN.  General Petraeus noted 
that Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have expressed their 
support of the NDN concept.  He requested expanded hours of 
operation for the bridge at Nizhniy Pyanj (currently 8 hours 
per day), which would benefit both Afghanistan and Tajikistan 
economically, as well as help U.S. and NATO efforts in 
Afghanistan. 
 
¶5.  (C) Rahmon committed to 24-hour operations at the Nizhniy 
Pyanj Bridge.  However, he stated there are requirements for 
infrastructure repair/development and additional equipment. 
He specifically pointed out that the road from Qurghon Teppe 
to the bridge is need of repair (the Japanese government has 
agreed to fund this repair but has not yet issued a tender or 
a construction contract). 
 
¶6.  (C) Rahmon also reiterated his request for an additional, 
smaller bridge in his home district in order to increase 
trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.  The Nizhniy Pyanj 
bridge and four smaller bridges in the east of the country 
Qbridge and four smaller bridges in the east of the country 
(built with Aga Khan Development Foundation support) have 
made a real impact on the lives of Afghans living in the 
border areas.  Further, over 400,000 tons of cement from 
Pakistan had been imported into Tajikistan via Nizhniy Pyanj 
since the bridge opened -- more than twice what Tajikistan 
could produce on its own.  General Petraeus emphasized the 
need to justify a second bridge first by maximizing use of 
the existing bridge at Nizhniy Pyanj with 24-hour operations. 
 
Need for Greater Efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶7.  (C) Rahmon emphatically stated his interest in a peaceful 
Afghanistan, maintaining that it will take the cooperation of 
the international community to solve the problems in 
Afghanistan and stabilize the region, including Pakistan 
(which he emphasized was the "homeland of terrorism"). 
Noting that Tajikistan shares a language and ethnicity with 
Afghanistan, Rahmon expressed readiness to provide additional 
support, including increased joint training with Afghan 
forces.  He said development of the economy of the entire 
area is important.  He emphasized that Afghanistan and 
Central Asia should be viewed as a complex community, the 
development of which should include transport, 
communications, electricity, trade, and even new railroad 
projects with China and Iran. 
 
¶8.  (C) Rahmon stated the need to strengthen the security of 
Tajikistan,s borders and to cooperate internationally, 
including with the OSCE, on initiatives to fight the transit 
of illegal narcotics. Noting the high level of illicit trade, 
Rahmon expressed his support for additional U.S. and other 
international forces in Afghanistan, insisting that all 
coalition members should have responsibility for 
counter-narcotics efforts.  Rahmon reiterated that the 
security of Central Asia is directly connected with that of 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and he called for increased U.S. 
efforts in Pakistan as well.  General Petraeus agreed that 
the commitment to Pakistan must be substantial and sustained. 
The General stated that after leaving Kazakhstan on this 
trip, he would visit Pakistan. 
 
Ongoing Problems with Uzbekistan and Hydropower 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶9.  (C) Rahmon said improved trade between the countries of 
the region would require "normal" borders and noted that 
landmines along Tajikistan's border with Uzbekistan had 
killed dozens of people, including 40 children, and caused 
significant economic losses.  Rahmon described the Tajik 
relationship with Uzbekistan as difficult.  He complained 
about Uzbekistan's unwillingness to allow the transit of 
Turkmen electricity, and its refusal to countenance the 
construction of additional hydropower capability in 
Tajikistan.  He claimed that despite the fact that sixty 
percent of the water in Central Asia flows from Tajikistan, 
the country has very little arable land; Tajikistan uses only 
five percent of the water, and fifty-five percent flows to 
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.   Calling for more 
U.S. investment in hydropower, Rahmon said increased capacity 
would not only help Tajikistan with its energy needs, but 
also allow export to Afghanistan, and even further to India 
and Pakistan.  However, Karimov is unpredictable and 
unwilling to support regional integration.  He wants to bring 
Tajikistan "to its knees -- in fact, he is ready to swallow 
us."   Rahmon said he had recently received a phone call from 
Afghan President Karzai, who complained that Uzbekistan was 
creating problems with the import of food via the bridge at 
Termez, "so I instructed our businessmen to send 5, 000 tons 
of flour via Nizhniy Pyanj." 
 
Rahmon Requests Logistical Support 
---------------------------------- 
¶10.  (C) Rahmon said Tajikistan is relying on 
Ukrainian-supplied military equipment and weapons to build up 
its armed forces, since "the Russians took everything with 
them when they left."  However, Uzbekistan will not allow 
land transit.  Rahmon requested U.S. assistance in terms of 
air transportation of this equipment (we are following up on 
this request). 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶11. (C) President Rahmon looked visibly tired at the meeting, 
which only lasted 90 minutes (in comparison to other meetings 
with USCENTCOM Commanders, which have run in excess of two 
hours).  Nonetheless, he was well briefed, undoubtedly by his 
Foreign Policy Advisor Rahmattuloyev, who had heard from the 
Ambassador three days prior that Rahmon should be forthcoming 
on NDN and broader cooperation with Afghanistan if he wants 
to see more attention and support from USCENTCOM.  We assess 
that Rahmon's enthusiasm for NDN is genuine for both economic 
and political reasons -- he would not want to be seen to be 
left behind when his neighbors are playing a positive role. 
 
 
JACOBSON