US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE766

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000766 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, AF, NL, NATO 
SUBJECT: READOUT OF DUTCH PRT RECCE TEAM TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN 
 
REF: A. THE HAGUE 578 
 
     B. THE HAGUE 477 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR NATHANIEL DEAN 
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Acting PolCouns obtained a readout on March 
23 on the recent GONL PRT recce team visit to Afghanistan 
from Joost Flamand (protect), the MFA team rep.  The team 
visited Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Konduz, and had meetings 
with Task Force Victory in Bagram and with ISAF and UN 
officials in Kabul.  Flamand's overall impression from the 
trip was positive.  He cited the UK PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif as 
an appealing model, and that he saw the prime function of a 
Dutch PRT as providing stability along the lines of their 
deployment in Iraq.  Clearly defined medevac and in extremis 
support arrangements will be crucial in obtaining 
parliamentary support.  Flamand identified Baghlan as a 
possible location for a Dutch PRT and said they seek to 
partner with the Canadians, Belgians and Germans.  In terms 
of next steps, Flamand said MFA and MOD will seek Ministerial 
approval for a follow-on GONL team visit to Afghanistan to 
identify a specific location and the assets required to 
undertake a PRT.  This should yield a recommendation to 
Ministers for a decision on Dutch PRT leadership, most likely 
by the end of April.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Acting Political Counselor obtained a readout on March 
23 from MFA Security Policy Deputy Operations Director Joost 
Flamand (protect throughout) on the recent visit to 
Afghanistan by a GONL recce team (REF A).  Flamand 
represented MFA on the joint MOD-MFA team which was in 
country from March 10-20 to explore options for a Dutch-led 
PRT.  The team visited PRTs in Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and 
Konduz.  They also had meetings at Task Force Victory at 
Bagram, and with COMISAF and SRSG Arnoult at UNAMA in Kabul. 
The team's mission was to enhance GONL understanding of the 
different types of PRTs, ISAF and OEF relations, and the 
views of UNAMA, NGOs and ICRC concerning PRTs.  Flamand said 
his overall impression from the trip was positive.  He 
thought the UK-led PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif, which he 
characterized as engaged more in military liaison than 
patrolling, seemed like the most appropriate model for the 
Netherlands.  Flamand saw the prime function of a Dutch-led 
PRT as providing stability similar to their current 
deployment in Iraq.  They would seek to create an environment 
in which local institutions such as courts and police could 
develop and function, as opposed to a more elaborate 
operation like the German-led PRT in Konduz.  Clearly defined 
arrangements on medevac and in extremis extraction will be 
necessary for gaining parliamentary support, but Flamand felt 
those could be addressed by the NATO Forward Support Base 
concept. 
 
3. (C) Emphasizing that he was speaking on a preliminary 
basis, Flamand said the team was interested in the 
possibilities for a Dutch-led PRT in Baghlan.  He said that 
UNAMA had urged the Dutch team to explore this location, 
apparently citing the newly-appointed local governor's 
difficulties with local warlords.  Flamand said this location 
offered some logistical advantages, including an all-weather 
road.  The Dutch team had been advised that the area held 
some economic promise which might prove useful in managing 
the local population's expectations.  Flamand also noted the 
relative low amount of poppy cultivation in the area, stating 
that the Netherlands does not want to undertake a PRT in an 
area where the chief source of instability is 
narcotics-related. 
 
4. (C) Concerning possible partners, Flamand said that based 
on their long history of cooperation, the GONL remains most 
interested in partnering with the Canadians, Belgians and 
Germans (he noted the proximity of Baghlan to Konduz).  He 
said an ideal long-term model for the Dutch would be a 
leadership rotation with the Canadians and the Belgians along 
the lines of the UK, Canadian and Dutch-run SFOR sector in 
Bosnia.  Working with the Canadians would also make it easier 
to gain parliamentary support because the Dutch parliament 
considers Canada a "big" country, and prefers that Dutch 
military deployments occur in partnership with such nations. 
Flamand cited Belgian C-130 lift capacity as a potentially 
helpful asset.  He also thought there might be the 
possibility of a small Luxembourg contribution thus making it 
a Benelux operation.  In terms of next steps, Flamand said 
the team would forward a report on the visit to FM Bot and 
MOD Kamp and seek their formal approval during the week of 
March 29-April 2 to dispatch another GONL team to identify a 
specific location and the particular assets required.  That 
trip would produce a detailed recommendation to Ministers for 
a decision on PRT leadership, most likely by the end of April. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  Flamand is the MFA's lead drafter of policy 
recommendations concerning military deployments to 
Afghanistan.  As such, he works closely with Dutch MOD 
Operations Chief Air Commodore Peter Cobelens (who also 
participated in the recce team visit).  While typically 
incremental, we judge the results of this recent trip to be a 
positive step towards Dutch leadership of a PRT.  End comment. 
SOBEL