VZCZCXRO5319
OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBUL #0726 0591504
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 281504Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5985
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T KABUL 000726 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INR/B 
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA 
USFOR-A FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2020 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCRM MOPS PREL AF
SUBJECT: CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING MARJAH 
SUB-DISTRICT GOVERNOR HAJI ZAHIR 
 
Classified By: IPA Deputy Coordinator Hoyt Yee, for Reasons 1.4(b) and 
(d). 
 
¶1. (S/REL ISAF, NATO) Summary.  As Operation Moshtarak within 
Nad Ali district began in mid-February, rumors of criminal 
allegations surrounding the Marjah Sub-District Governor Haji 
Zahir and his time in Germany began to surface.  Upon hearing 
these allegations, Regional Platform)South (RP-S) and the 
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, Helmand 
initiated an investigation into these claims through 
Interpol, which now has confirmed that the criminal charges 
and a conviction against Zahir.  Following the confirmation 
of these allegations, RP-South and the PRT brought this 
information to Helmand Governor Mangal, who reconfirmed with 
Zahir that he has a criminal record in Germany, where he 
served approximately five years in prison, starting in 1997 
for attempted manslaughter, and was subsequently deported to 
Pakistan in 2003.  Despite the low-level status given to the 
position of sub-district governor for Marjah and the fact 
that Zahir's appointment to the position is only on a 
temporary basis, Mangal told RP-S and PRT personnel that he 
will move to fire Zahir.  RP-South and the PRT will continue 
to follow this situation and will support Mangal on his 
decisions with his staff.  End Summary. 
 
Allegations Surface 
------------------ 
 
¶2. (S/REL ISAF, NATO)  Immediately following the launch of 
Operation Moshtarak in Nad Ali district, Helmand, on February 
13, rumors surrounding the appointment of Haji Zahir to the 
position of Sub-District Governor for the Marjah area began 
to surface.  The rumors, which alleged a criminal past for 
Zahir while living in Germany, prompted personnel at both 
Regional Platform)South (RP-S) and the Provincial 
Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Helmand to initiate an 
investigation through Interpol to determine the veracity of 
these claims. 
 
Confirmation of Prison Sentence 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (S/REL ISAF, NATO)  RP-S and the PRT now have confirmation 
through the German police services that Zahir was convicted 
of attempted manslaughter in Germany in 1997, involving his 
male teenage step-child.  RP-S and the PRT understand that 
Zahir served five years in a German prison and was then 
deported in 2003 to Pakistan.  Under the terms of Zahir's 
deportation, he is not allowed to reenter Germany until 2018. 
 
¶4. (S/REL ISAF, NATO)  Since Zahir was appointed by Helmand 
Governor Mangal into the low-level position of Marjah 
Sub-District Governor on a temporary basis, RP-S and PRT 
personnel immediately provided Governor Mangal with this 
information.  Mangal, who was not aware of Zahir's past when 
he made the appointment confronted Zahir with the 
information, which Zahir confirmed.  RP-S and the PRT told 
Mangal that the confirmation of these allegations is 
troubling and casts unwanted doubt on the current military 
campaign in Nad Ali.  Mangal agreed with these concerns, 
saying that he would not tolerate someone with a past like 
Zahir's on his team and would move to replace him as soon as 
possible. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5. (S/REL ISAF, NATO)  RP-S and the PRT are well aware of the 
sensitivities surrounding Haji Zahir and his position within 
the current ISAF military and civilian campaigns.  However, 
it is important to also understand that the appointment of 
Zahir should, in no way, reflect poorly on Governor Mangal 
and his service to his province during this trying time.  The 
position of sub-district governor is a low-level position, 
and Mangal intended Zahir's appointment to be on a temporary 
basis.  RP-S and the PRT will continue to work with Mangal, 
his provincial staff, and the Nad Ali district government as 
we push forward with Operation Moshtarak and stabilization 
efforts in Marjah. 
EIKENBERRY