VZCZCXRO5345
RR RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBUL #0590 0480652
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170652Z FEB 10 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5640
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KABUL 000590
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV EAID AF
SUBJECT: OPERATION MOSHTARAK - SITUATIONAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 16,
2010
REF: (A) KABUL 582, (B) KABUL 567, (C) KABUL 554, (D) KABUL 543,
(E) KABUL 466, (F) KABUL 115, (G) 09 KABUL 4187
1. (SBU) Summary. Operations in Nad Ali District continued on
February 16, as ISAF continued to find high numbers of improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) in the operational area. Governor Mangal
attended a security shura today to look at Nad Ali security, and he
traveled to Camp Bastion to visit three civilian casualties, injured
by the Taliban. At the request of the Director of the Independent
Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), Governor Mangal also agreed
to reschedule the launch of the Nad Ali Stabilization Plan,
originally set for February 18. End Summary.
2. (SBU) As operations in Nad Ali district proceed, ISAF forces
continued to encounter large numbers of improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) and foreign fighters, especially in northern Marjah. The
provincial and district governments remain heavily engaged in
preparations to move forward with development and governance efforts
once Operation Moshtarak is closed. This is a situational update
for the happenings in Nad Ali district for February 16, 2010.
POLITICAL UPDATE
----------------
3. (SBU) Helmand Governor Mangal hosted a security shura attended by
Minister of Interior Atmar, Minister of Defense Wardak, and RC-S
Commander MG Carter (UK) in Lashkar Gah to examine the current
security situation of Nad Ali and to look ahead to future security
measures. Although no major decisions were made, reports indicate
that the shura was well received.
4. (SBU) Mangal, along with Nad Ali Deputy District Governor
(covering Marjah) Haji Zahir and a number of Afghan press, traveled
to the medical ward at Camp Bastion to visit three civilian
casualties injured by Taliban forces in northern Marjah.
MEDIA UPDATE
------------
5. (SBU) In international reporting, questions are being raised
about the civilian casualty incident on Sunday. Although NATO
forces claimed responsibility for a rocket attack that killed 12
civilians, American officers Monday were quoted anonymously in the
New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and McClatchy as maintaining
that the rocket had hit the compound it was intended to hit, and
suggested the Taliban may have been using human shields.
6. (SBU) The international media was also dominated by reports of
the capture in Pakistan of the Afghan Taliban's top military
commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. However, as the operations
progress, questions from journalists are also turning to the next
phases of Operation Moshtarak: governance capacity building and
development. In an interview with CNN, PRT USAID Team Lead stated,
"Even influential elders who we honestly didn't think would be
supportive are aligning themselves with us. They see the work
everyone has done in other areas of Helmand and are looking to
seeing those benefits too."
DEVELOPMENT
-----------
7. (SBU) The Nad Ali Stabilization Plan launch, which was scheduled
for February 18, has been rescheduled for a later date since
Minister Popal, Minister for the Independent Directorate for Local
Governance, cannot attend on the original date. Governor Mangal has
requested that the launch be moved to next week, date to be
determined.
8. (SBU) Reports from Nad Ali indicate that many culverts and roads
have been badly damaged due to IEDs, and the PRT is looking for ways
to assess the damage and send repair teams to fix the damages.
IDP UPDATE
----------
9. (SBU) As of February 16, the Helmand Department of Refugees and
Repatriation reports that a total of 1354 families have registered
in Lashkar Gah, with 129 registered today. Of this total, 628
families have asked for humanitarian assistance, such as ration
cards and supplies.
EIKENBERRY