No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 5 AME-1 DOM POL I CHRON DUMMI 29- -NOV-87 T03 93 36 EOCRUE CN 29532 DE RUEHC 3249254 cane AM ENI DIST EIDI zeazASz Nov 27 ADD EM SECSTATE EUEHSE AMEMEASST USSR IMMEDIATE @414 ASSI AAEUL IMMEDIATE 5635 ISLAMAEAD IMMEDIATE 3876 NEE DELHI IMMEDIATE 5625 DESIIANAE IMMEDIATE 906' IMMED ST SECTION 61 OF @5 STATE 361806 EXDIS Dos REVIEWED 18-Apr-2007 DEGLASSIFIED IN SENEIA 12223 DTD 18 Nov SENT ACTION STATE vtt RPTD Eon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o Objection No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4Hal- int uuvv VORONTSOV READINESS TO VISIT ISLAMABAD IN MID-DECEMBER TO OUT TEE TIMETABLE PROPOSAL AND DISGUSS INTERIM GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS EE CONFIRMED SOVIET INTEREST IN NEUTRALITT ARRANGEMENTS ALONG TEE LINES OP TEE AUSTRIAN STATE TREATY BUT SAID TEET VOULD HAVE TO BE OUT VITE TEE NEV INTERIM GOVERNMENT EE DEMURRED ON EORESEADOVING TEE VITEDRAVAL TIMETABLE BUT BROADLT EINTED TEAT GORBAGEEV VOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SAT ON TEIS TO TEE PRESIDENT AT TEE SUMMIT EINALLT VORONTSOV EEPRESSED INBTEREST IN ARRANGEMENTS TEAT GO BETOND GURRENT U S TEOUGETS OE GIVILIAN INTERNATIONAL GIVIL SERVANTS OR THE MODEST MONITORING GONTEMPLATED IN TEE GENEVA INSTRUMENTS A AFTER WELCOMING FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER VORONTSOV AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS DELEGATION UNDER SECRETARY ARMACOST OPENED THE DISCUSSIONS RY EXPRESSING THE NEED TO MOVE THE US-SOVIET DIALOGUE FROM A GENERAL DECLARATION OF VIENPOINTS AND CONCERNS TO MORE CONCRETE OPERATIONAL WORK ON RESOLVING SOME OF THE REGIONAL PROBLEMS THEMSELVES THIS NEED WAS PARTICULARLY FELT HE SAID IN VIEW OF THE UPCOMING SUMMIT THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS -- INCLUDING MAJOR PROGRESS IN ARMS CONTROL PROGRESS ON THE REGIONAL AGENDA COULD HELP CONSOLIDATE THE PROGRESS MADE ON ARMS CONTROL IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO DEMONSTRATE FORWARD MOVEMENT ON THE REGIONAL ISSUES AS WE APPROACH SENATE CONSIDERATION 0 INF AND OTHER ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS 5 TO TEEIR DISGUSSION OE ATGEANISTAN THE PREVIOUS EVENING NOVEMBER 16 OVER DINNER ARMAGOST NOTED TEAT ES AND VORONTSOV EAD AGREED ON TEE POLLOVING PROMPT TIMETABLE POE VITEDRAVAL OP SOVIET TROOPS IS ESSENTIAL TO A SOLUTION OP TEE AEGEAN A TIMETABLE VOULD COMPLETE TEE GENEVA NEGOTIATIONS AND GOULD INIEOT REALISM AND MOMENTUM To ON AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT BUT SEOULD NOT BE OONTINGENT ON PRIOR AGREEMENT ON AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT VORONTSOV REMAREED RIOET --ANY INTERIM GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS AS WELL AS DECISIONS ON A SUCCESSOR GOVERNMENTS ARE FOR THE AFGHANS THEMSELVES TO DECIDE NOT OUTSIDE SOME OF IDEAS REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS AMONG THE PARTIES ON INTERIM GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE INTERESTING AND WORTH TESTING HERE VORONTSOV INDICATED AGREEMENT BUT STIPULATED THAT THE IDEAS SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED BY CORDOTEZ THAT THIS LIES OUTSIDE HIS MANDATE STATE No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 SLDTAUN RING ZAHIR SHAH HAS A SPECIAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE FORMATION OF AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT ALTHOUGH HE AND VORONTSOV HAD NOT DEFINED PRECISELY THE NATURE OF HIS ROLE VORONTSOV INTERJECTED THAT THE KING HAS NO AMBITION FOR ANY POWER AND OFFICIAL STATUS THE MAN WHO IS BRINGING THE AEGHAN PEOPLE TOGETHER THE PEOPLE IN RABUL ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HIM AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION THEY ALSO HESITATE TO GIVE HIM A POLITICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE SUCH AS PRIME MINISTER OR PRESIDENT HE CAN BE A FATHER FIGURE WITH THE IMAGE OF A RECONCILATOR WHO BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEN STEPS ASIDE HABUL AND THE KING ARE AGREED ON THIS SHAH COULD CONVENE AND PRESIDE OVER A LOYA JIRGA VORONTSOV INTERJECTED THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA AND THAT THE LOYA JIRGA SHOULD BE HELD ON APGHAN RATHER THAN PAIASTANI TERRITORY - PERHAPS IN THE BORDER AREA ADJACENT TO PAKISTAN PAIASTANI IDEAS TO HOLD THE LOYA JIRGA IN ISLAMABAD ARE REDICULOUS THE APGHANS ARE A PROUD PEOPLE VORONSTOV AGREED WITH SUGGESTION THAT THE LOYA JIRGA COULD BE HELD IN A BORDER AREA INSIDE AFGHANISTAN 6 CONTINUING HIS RECAPITULATION OF APPARENT POINTS OF AGREEMENT UNDER SECRETARY ARMACOST NOTED THE DESIRABILITY OE NEUTRALITY ARRANGEMENTS ALONG THE LINES OF THE AUSTRIAN STATE TREATY HE OBSERVED THAT ON THE BASIS OE THE DISCUSSION OF THIS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER SHEVARDNADZE THE US SIDE JUDGED THAT THE AUSTRIAN STATE TREATY MODEL IS CONSONANT WITH SOVIET THINKING IN REPLY VORONTSOV SAID THE APGHANS DRA ARE ALSO IN THEY WANT A NEUTRAL AFGHANISTAN FRIENDLY TO ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS ARMACOST SAID THAT THE US SIDE LIKES THE AUSTRIAN STATE TREATY BECAUSE UNDER ITS PROVISIONS AUSTRIA DECLARED ITS NEUTRALITY AND THE GREAT POWERS ENJORSED IT VORONTSOV REPEATED AGAIN RECEPTIVITY TO THIS IDEA 7 ARMACOST INQUIRED WHETHER VORONTSOV HAD ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO INTRODUCE NEUTRALITY ARRANGEMENTS SINCE THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE GENEVA INSTRUMENTS VORONTSOV SAID THAT WHILE ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED COULD BE CONSULTED THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH THE NEW INTERIM COALITION GOVERNMENT ARMACOST URGED VORONTSOV TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE PAKS WHEN HE MEETS WITH THEM IN MID-DECEMBER 8 AS A POSSIBLE FINAL POINT OF AGREEMENT ARMACOST NOTED THE POSITIVE ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN ASSESSING RECONSTRUCTION NEEDS AND DETERRING APTER A SOVIET TROOP WITHDRAWAL ARMACOST SAID THAT THE US IDEA HAS TO HAVE VARIOUS UN ORGANIZATIONS WHO UNRCR ICRC ETC ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN ONCE THE SOVIET UNION HAD ANNOUNCED ITS UITHDRAWAL PLANS WHILE ASSESSING RECONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS THESE AGENCIES WOULD ALSO SERVE AS THE EYES AND EARS OF THE WORLD No Objection To Declassi ation 2008 06 09 NLC-13115-8-4-8 N0 Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 In I J uu'um uu'u u_ COMMUNITY THIS WOULD ACT AS A DETERRENT TO INTERNECINE WARFARE ALTHQUGH AFTER A CIVIL WAR OF 7-YEARS DURATION SOME SETTLING BF SCORES IS PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE 9 VORONTSOV SAID THAT THE SOVIET SIDE HAD NOT QUITE GRASPED SECRETARY IDEAS ON THIS BUT HE VORONTSOV WONDERED WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE JUST OUTLINED WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE SETTLING OF SCORES HE NOTED IN THIS CONNECTION THAT THE GENEVA INSTRUMENTS MAKE PROVISION FOR A MECHANISM TO MONITOR THE WITHDRAWAL AND CEASEFIRE BUT THAT THIS PRESENCE WOULD BE QUITE MODEST WE WILL NEED HE SAID TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PERSUADE THE PARTIES TO STOP EIRING AT EACH OTHER THE US SIDE AND THE PAKISTANIS WHO HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE SHOULD PERSUADE THEIR FRIENDS TO STOP SHOOTING AND START TALKING 10 VORONTSOV SAID THAT BEYOND THIS SOME SORT OE GUARANTEES MAY BE NEEDED THE GENEVA INSTRUMENTS PROVIDE FOR THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES BACK TO AFGHANISTAN WITHOUT THEIR WEAPONS BUT IT IS DIFEICULT HE SAID TO ENVISION THIS HAPPENING SOMETHING MORE BEYOND UN OBSERVERS MAY THEREFORE BE NEEDED THE PARS DURING MEETINGS AT THE UNGA HAD PROPOSED THE IDEA OF A UN PEACEIEEPING FORCE THE SOVIET SIDE HAD PLAYED WITH THE IDEA BUT KEPT COMING UP AGAINST PRACTICAL QUESTIONS OF WHERE TO PUT IT ETC VORONTSOV INDICATED THAT HE WOULD BE DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER WITH THE PAKISTANIS BUT THAT MOST OF ALL WE WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON PERSUASION TO CURTAIL THE BLOODLETTING 11 ARMACOST ALSO EXPRESSED SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN A STATE 551806 92 No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 SITUATION OF CIVIL STRIPE SUCH FORCES CAN BECOME MAGNETS FOR THE FIGHTING RATHER THAN A BUFFER BETWEEN CONTENDING PARTIES VORONTSOV REITERATED THAT THE FORCE OF SO-BO OBSERVERS ENVISIONED BI CORDOVEZ WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT AND SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THIS COULD BE BEEFED UP IF ADDITIONAL UN FINANCING WERE FOUND A LARGER OBSERVER FORCE WOULD BE HELPFUL HE SAID BUT IN ANY EVENT THERE IS STILL TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THIS BEFORE THE SIGNING OF THE GENEVA ACCORDS 12 TURNING TO AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT ARMACOST POINTED TO SOVIET FAILURE TO ANNOUNCE A TIMEFRAME FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL THE DECISION IS UP TO YOU SOVIETS HE SAID BUT THIS QUESTION IS CENTRAL TO US POLICY SINCE WE THE US ARE TO ACT AS GUARANTORS UNDER THE GENEVA INSBRUMENTS HERE ARMACOST PLACED SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR FRONT LOADING ANY TROOP WITHDRAWAL SO THAT THE SOVIET SIDE WOULD PROVIDE AN EARLY ERNEST OF ITS INTENT TO CARRY OUT ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GENEVA INSTRUMENTS THE US AND PAKISTAN WILL BE CONFRONTED WITH A SINGLE DECISION POINT ON ENDING SUPPLIES TO THE RESISTANCE WHILE THE SOVIET TROOP UITHDRAHAL WILL BE A PROCESS UNFOLDING OVER TIME FOR THAT REASON SAID ARMACOST THE US COULD NOT SERVE AS A GUARANTOR OF THE GENEVA ACCORDS UNLESS THE CONCEPT OF A PHASED WITHDRAWAL IS SPELLED OUT 13 AFTER CLARIFIING THAT ARMACOST HAD IN MIND A CONCEPT WHEREBY A GIVEN PERCENTAGE -- 56 PERCENT WAS USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES -- OF SOVIET TROOPS WOULD LEAVE AFGHANISTAN BY A TIME FIXED IN A WITHDRAWAL SCHEDULE VORONTSOV OBSERVED THAT THIS GENERAL CONCEPT WAS ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE GENEVA ACCORDS WE THE SOVIETS WILL ABIDE BY THIS HE SAID VORONTSOV DID NOT FURTHER ELABORATE EXCEPT TO SAY THE SOVIETS WOULD ANNOUNCE A TIMETABLE DURING THE NEXT GENEVA ROUND WHICH MAY TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY RATHER THAN FEBRUARY WE WILL BE TALKING TO CORDOVEZ ABOUT THIS HE SAID 14 VORONTSOV REFUSED TO FORESHADOW TO ARMACOST WHAT THAT TIMETABLE WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE SOVIETS WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE PAKISTANIS FIRST NOTING THAT THIS MIGHT OCCUR AFTER THE SUMMIT ARMACOST OBSERVED THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF GORBACHEV HERE IN A POSITION TO DISCUSS TIMETABLE WITH THE PRESIDENT AT THE SUMMIT VORONTSOV ASSURED ARMACOST THAT GORBACHEV WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON THIS ISSUE IN HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT 15 AT THIS POINT VORONTSOV PRESENTED THB POLLONING DRAFT COMMUNIQUE AFGHANISTAN BEGIN TEXT OF UNOPPIOIAL TRANSLATION THE TWO SIDES THE NBOBSSITI OR THE QUICIEST UNBLOCKING OR THE APGHAN PROBLEM IN THE OF PRAOH AND STABILITI IN AFGHANISTAN AND IN THAT PART OR THE NORLD ON THE BASIS OT A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OUTSIDE AND THE NITHDRANAL OP PORDIGN 0R SOVIET POROBS TRB Two SIDES DECLARED THEIR SUPPORT If No Objection To Dec lassi caTion 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 D A 1 91 1141 uu'u nu FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL MR CORDOVEZ ON BEHALF OF RESOLUTION 0 THE SITUATION AROUND AFGHANISTAN 15 VORONTSOV EXPLAINED THAT THE WORDS COULD BUT THE GENERAL IDEA OF THIS LANGUAGE WAS TO GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT AND CONVEY ASSURANCES THAT THE AFGHAN PROBLEM IS BEING ATTENDED TO BY THE TWO LEADERS CORDOVEZ WANTS THE TWO LEADERS TO GIVE THIS KIND OF ENCOURAGEMENT ARMACOST OBSERVED THAT THE MOST CRITICAL THING FOR THE US IS THAT THERE BE AT THE SUMMIT SOME INDICATION THAT THE AEGHAN GOVERNMENT WILL PROPOSE AT THE NEXT GENEVA ROUND A PLAN FOR THE SPEEDY WITHDRANAL 0E OUTSIDE EORCES A SPEEDY WITHDRAWAL TIMETABLE IS CRUCIAL FOR A COMPLETION OF THE GENEVA ACCORDS GORBACHEV SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPECIFY THE TIMETABLE AT THE SUMMIT 17 VORONTSOV INDICATED THAT GORBACHEV WOULD NOT RESPOND TO A REAGAN DEMAND ON THE TIMETABLE BUT WOULD BE PREPARED T0 VOLUNTEER SOVIET PLANS FOR A TIMETABLE SAYING THAT HE HAD NO COMMUNIQUE LANGUAGE TO PROPOSE ON AFGHANISTAN ARMACOST ASKED VORONTSOV WHETHER THE SOVIETS INTEND TO DISCUSS THE TIMETABLE WITH THE PAKISTANIS PRIOR TO THE SUMMIT VORONTSOV REPLIED THERE WAS NOT TIME LEFT T0 CONSULT WITH THE PAKISTANIS BEFORE THE SUMMIT YOU THE US SAY THAT PAKISTAN IS ON THE FRONT LINE I AGREE HE SAID BUT WE WILL TALK TO YOU FIRST AND THEN THE PARS 18 ARMACOST EMPHASIZED THAT WITH OVER 3 MILLION REEUGEES ON THEIR SOIL THE PARS WERE INDEED FRONT AND CENTER THE REEUGEES WILL NOT RETURN UNLESS THEIR INTERESTS ARE ACCOMMODATED THAT IS WHY IN PREPARING STATE 351806 05 N0 Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 EEUijthion To Declassi cation I'll nu 91 13am AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP ARRANGEMENTS IN WHICH THE REEUGEES AND RESISTANCE WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT REASON FOR DISTINGUISHING IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS BETHEEN THE PDPA AS A PARTY AND THE PDPA AS A GOVERNING ENTITY VORONTSOV INTERJECTED THAT THE PDPA AT ITS JUST CONCLUDED PARTY CONFERENCE RAD AGREED TO THIS DISTINCTION CHARACTERIZING ITSELF AS JUST ONE PARTY AMONG MANY VORONTSOV URGED ARMACOST TO LOOK AT THE DECISIONS OF THE PARTY CONFERENCE THE PDPA CLAIMED TO BE ONLY ONE PARTY ONE ELEMENT IN NEGOTIATIONS ON AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT 19 ARMACOST DISPUTED VORONTSOV PORTRAYAL OF THE POLITICAL EVOLUTION UNDERUAY IN AFGHANISTAN NOTING THAT THE PDPA PLANS TO ENHANCE THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY INSTALL NAJIB IN IT AND THEN CONVENE ITS OWN LOYA JIRGA IN NOVEMBER TO BLESS A NEW CONSTITUTION NHICH UILL ENSHRINE THE SPECIAL GUIDING ROLE OF THE PARTY THIS WILL FORECLOSE HE SAID ANY POSSIBILITY OF GENUINE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION 20 IN REPLY VORONTSOV URGED ARMACOST TO LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION THE ARRANGEMENTS EORMALIZED IN THE CONSTITUTION ARE ONLY 0 AN INTERIM NATURE THE PARTY IS PREPARING ITSELF EUR NEGOTIATIONS AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 0P AFGHANISTAN IS MAKING A TRANSITION TO JUST THE REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN YOU ARMACOST SHOULD NOT HORRY TOO MUCH 21 INDICATING THAT VORONTSOV HAD NOT ALLAYED HIS CONCERNS ARMACOST NOTED THAT IN READING INTO A PERIOD OF NEW GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS ONE GROUP SHOULD NOT PROMULGATE A CONSTITUTION THAT MAKES RECONCILIATION HARDER NOT EASIER THE NEW CONSTITUTION SPELLS OUT A SPECIAL ROLE FOR THE PDPA AND SPECIAL PONERS ARE BESTONED ON THE PRESIDENCY NITH THERE BEING EVERY INDICATION THAT NAJIB INTENDS TO OCCUPY THAT OFEICE THIS IS NOT A FORMULA FOR ACCOMMODATION SAID ARMACOST BUT A EORMULA TOR CONSOLIDATING NAJIBS POWER THOUGH ON A NARROW POLITICAL BASE g2 IORONTSOT THAT NOT THE PDPA HAS THT HENTALITY OT A RULING PARTY THL PDPA HAS TO SHIFT HT SAID ITS MENTALITY TO THAT OT ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN A GOALITION IT TILL TAKE SOME TIME TO CREATE THIS NHT MENTALITY RRNAINS SOME DISTANCE TOR THR PDPA TO GO THIS IS OITTIGULT FOR THHN THLI SAI NOT DHRHATRO HARUL IS IN OUR POSSESSION AS ART VARIOUS PROUINGTS URI DID TH NAIL THH REVOLUTION II THE RING IS UR THR SOUIRTS SAID VORONTSOV ARR HELPING THH PDPA TO NAIL THH TRANSITION FROM THR DOMINANT PARTY TO JUST ONH OR THE PARTIES IT Is EASY TO TALK ABOUT ALL OT THIS IN NASHINGTON BUT IN KABUL THLI ARE GOING THROUGH REAL 23 ARMACOST SAID THERE ARE TUO POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS -ndn In No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC- 131 8-4-8 No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 '3 II 9 a J uAnAu uv'v a T0 WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN EITHER THE PDPA IS CONSOLIDATING ITS POWER IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR WITHDRAWAL 0R SIMPLY AVOIDING THE HARD DECISIONS THAT MUST BE MADE VORONTSOV INTERJECTED THAT OTHERS WERE NOT BEING HELPFUL THE US WAS NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THE MENTALITY OP THE RESISTANCE LEADERS IN PESHAWAR THEY SIT IN PESHAWAR WITH THE NICE LIFE AND CRITICIZE EVERYTHING THEY COME TO WASHINGTON AND ARE PRAISED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR NOT ENGAGING IN NATIONAL RECONCILIATION 24 ARMACOST REPLIED THAT THE RESISTANCE LEADERS HAD BEEN PRAISED FOR FIGHTING FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THEIR COUNTRY - A NOBLE CAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO CONCRETE PROPOSAL THAT COULD ELICIT THE INTEREST OF THE MUJAHIDIN YOU VORONTSOV DESCRIBED THE JULY OFFER WHICH THE OPPOSITION MANY PORTFOLIOS BUT NO CONTROL OVER THE REAL INSTRUMENTS 0 POWER AS ONLY AN OPENING BID BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT FOR THE RESISTANCE AND THERE WAS NO EOLLOW-UP 25 VORONTSOV RESPONDED THAT HE HAD SEEN NO PEACE PLANS FROM THE MUJAHIDIN HE DISPUTED OBSERVATION THAT IT WAS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT PEACE PROPOSALS FROM THE RESISTANCE ABSENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TIMETABLE FOR TROOP WITHDRANAL SAYING THAT THE RESISTANCE SIMPLY WANTS TO THROW OUT THE DRA AND TAKE ALL POWER FOR ITSELE 26 N50 COUNSELOR RODMAN URGED THE SOVIETS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN CONTACTS WITH THE RESISTANCE THE US SIMPLY WANTS A PROCESS FOR THE AFGHAN PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE VORONTSOV REPLIED THAT THE SOVIETS DO HAVE THEIR OWN CONTACTS WITH THE RESISTANCE BUT ARE NOT GOING TO REPORT THEM TO US STATE 351805 64 No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 I No Objection To Declassi cation 2008 06 09 NLC-131-5-8-4-8 IT u'u luv-J BAA-RAJ Quad Ivy 27 AT TRIS POINT VORONTSOV PRESENTED ORALLI TRE EOLLOVING REPORT ON OCTOBER 21 THE US AMBASSADOR IN PAKISTAN MET VITR TRREE LEADERS OR THE RESISTANCE RETIMATIAR AND RABBANI To DISCUSS CARRIING OUT PROPAGANDA AND MILITARI MEASURES DIRECTED AT COMPROMISING TRE POLICI OP NATIONAL RECONCILIATION TRE AMBASSADOR PROMISED TO PROMULGATE A DIRECTIVE A EARNING AGAINST CONTACTS WITH THE RABUL GOVERNMENT UNDER PENALTI OE ISLAMIC LAV OR E CALLING EOR PLACEMENT OE STINGER MISSILES AT AIRPORTSI C PLACING US ADVISORS WITH TRE LARGEST DETACRMENTS OR THE NUJARIDIN TO ADVISE ON MILITARI AND D GIVING CLARIEICATION T0 RESISTANCE LEADERS ABOUT THE DELIVERI or US NEAPONS INCLUDING STINGER MISSILES TRE AMBASSADOR DECLARED THAT THE NUMBER AND TIPE OE VEAPONS TO BE DELIVERED NILL BE DETERMINED BI TRE LEVEL OE MILITARI ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN BI TRE VARIOUS RESISTANCE DETACRMENTS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN TRIS MEETING VERE A A PAEASTANI AIR EORCE COMNNDER TRE COMMANDER OR THE SECOND PAR CORPS AND THE MINISTER OE STATE POR PARISTAN EOR THE NORTHWEST BORDER PROVINCES 28 ARMACOST ADVISED VORONTSOV NOT TO TRUST SUCH A IT IS FULL OF MISPRESENTATIONS RODMAN JOINED IN THAT THE PRESENCE OF US ADVISORS IN AFGHANISTAN NAS INCONCEIVABLE AND THAT SOMEONE WAS MISLEADING THE SOVIETS TO COMMENT THAT THE RESISTANCE NEEDED TO CHANGE ITS MENTALITV AND THINK POLITICALLVII RODMAN SAID THAT THE RESISTANCE IS TRYING TO DEVELOP GREATER UNITY THE ELECTION OF A NEW RESISTANCE LEADER OR RAIS WAS A SIGN THAT THAT WAS HAPPENING AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS POSITIVE FROM THE SOVIET POINT OF VIEW 29 ARMACOST NOTED IN THIS CONNECTION THAT SETTING A DEADLINE FOR TROOP NITRDRAHAL WOULD HELP IT WOULD HAVE A TRANSEORMING EFFECT THE ALLIANCE LEADERS HAVE NO INCENTIVE T0 INTRODUCE INTO THEIR DELIBERATIONS DIVISIVE POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE ABSENCE OF A CLEAR AND DEEINITIVE SOVIET SIGNAL THAT IT IS WITHDRAWING A SOVIET DECISION ON THE TIMETABLE WOULD REEOCUS RESISTANCE ATTENTION ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS 36 ARMACOST CONCLUDED THE AFGHAN DISCUSSION RV ASKING VORONTSOV WHAT HE INTENDED TO TELL CORDOVEZ IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE SOVIETS LIKE IDEAS BUT THINK ANOTHER MEDIATOR WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE VORONTSOV ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WOULD BE TRICKY BUT STATED THAT THE UN SHOULD NOT GET IN THE BUSINESS OP REARRANGING THE INTERNAL POLITICAL LIFE OF ANY COUNTRY ARMACOST NOTED THAT PAIASTANI INTERLOCUTORS THINK THE CONVOCATION OF A LOYA JIRGA UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE KING WOULD BE THE KEY EVENT 31 VORONTSOV SAID THE AECRANS IN RABUL AGREED VITR TRIS TROUGR RE COULD NOT BE SURE VRAT TRE MAGNIFICENT IN PESRAVAR VOULD SAY ABOUT TRIS PETRONE UNQTE RT No Objection To DeciaSsi cation This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu