Cablegate: Air Transport for Afghans to Hajj ?-Leased Airlift

VZCZCXRO2537
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #5642 3341032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301032Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4350
INFO RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0105
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 4246
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 3341

UNCLAS KABUL 005642

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EB/OTP, EB/TRA/AN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A
COMMERCE FOR ITA/SHAMROCK
FAA FOR JHANCOCK AND RSMITH
RIYADH FOR ECON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAIR EAID AF
SUBJECT: AIR TRANSPORT FOR AFGHANS TO HAJJ ?-LEASED AIRLIFT
SUPPORT NOW MEETING GOA REQUIREMENTS

This message is sensitive but unclassified--not for
Internet distribution.

REF: KABUL 5547

1. (SBU) After a week of Hajj flight operations, the GoA
has indicated that currently-leased aircraft are meeting
the demands of Afghanistan's Hajj and can be expected to
function properly through the first phase, i.e., getting
Hajjis to Jeddah over the next three weeks. While some
substantial issues remain (particularly the SAG's ability
to issue adequate numbers of visas in time to fill the
Afghan flights), these are being addressed separately.
Embassy appreciates the support from the Department, NATO,
and NATO capitals and confirms that all can stand down from
efforts to obtain standby airlift support for the Afghans
(pursuant to reftel instruction from the Department).

NEUMANN

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