Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF ASEC AR AEMR AMGT AE AU AID AORC APER AS AM AFIN AMED AJ AGR ACOA ANET ASIG ABLD AL AA APECO AGAO AY AGMT APEC AINF AG ACS AECL AFFAIRS ABUD ASUP ADANA AADP AMCHAMS ARF ASEAN ADPM ATRN ALOW APCS ADCO ACAO AORG AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL ADM AN AIT
BU BR BL BO BA BB BG BM BBSR BH BEXP BK BD BTIO BT BE BY BF BX BP BRUSSELS BILAT BIDEN BC BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CH CG CF CU CE CVIS CASC CO CS CA CIDA CBW CW CMGT CI CODEL CY CPAS CJAN CD CWC CDG CIA CL CROS CAPC CTR CT CR CBSA CEUDA COM CFED CV CACS CARSON CLINTON CN CONS CM CAC CIC COPUOS CDC CONDOLEEZZA CICTE COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CHR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CNARC CIS
DR DA DJ DHS DAO DCM DEA DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DE DEAX
EG EZ EUN ECON ETRD ECPS EFIN ENRG ETTC EPET EINV EAID EAIR EWWT EU EAGR EC ELAB EIND EN EMIN ESENV ENNP EFIS ELTN ET ECIN EFTA ES EINT EI ENGR ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENVI ETRDECONWTOCS ECINECONCS ELN ELECTIONS ENVR EXTERNAL EXIM ETRO ENIV ESA ER EK EUR EFINECONCS EUMEM EUREM EPA ERNG ENERG ECA ETRC EINVEFIN ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH
FR FI FJ FAS FBI FOREIGN FAO FOR FTAA FDA FM FTA FREEDOM FISO FARC FAC FINR FINANCE FOI FMLN FO
GM GG GH GR GT GAERC GA GY GCC GERARD GV GOI GZ GE GANGS GOV GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL GTIP
HR HA HO HK HSTC HILLARY HU HI HURI HUMAN HYMPSK HEBRON HUMOR
IS IZ IR IC IO IN ID IGAD IT ILC IAEA ITU ICAO IMO IBRD IMF ICJ IAHRC ITF INRA INRO IWC IQ IV ICRC ICTY INRB IEFIN ILO ITRA ITALY IBET ISRAELI IL INTELSAT IRC IDP ICTR IRAQI IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM ISRAEL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS
JO JA JAMES JUS JP JOHNNIE JM JOHN JOSEPH
KSPR KNNP KWBG KAWK KISL KPAO KN KS KIPR KCRM KDEM KIRF KJUS KHLS KSCA KOMC KAWC KV KFRD KWMN KTIP KPWR KSUM KGHG KTIA KTFN KIRC KCOR KACT KMDR KGIC KOLY KUNR KIDE KMPI KPKO KCFE KVPR KRAD KPAL KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTEX KTDB KFSC KZ KSEP KFLU KE KU KPLS KRVC KRIM KSTH KG KFLO KPOA KICC KDDG KPRV KTBT KBCT KSAF KMOC KDRG KBIO KREC KSTC KVRP KBTR KMIG KENV KNSD KCGC KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KWMM KPRP KNEI KPAI KO KVIR KX KMCA KCRS KMFO KID KCIP KNAR KR KCRCM KBTS KSEO KHDP KFIN KOCI KGIT KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KCOM KLIG KDEMAF KAID KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KHSA
LE LY LI LO LG LH LU LA LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MPOS MOPS MARR MTCR MNUC MASS MX MCAP MAR MTRE MASC MK MG MTCRE MI MD MA MO MY MU ML MRCRE MAS MEDIA MC MR MIL MW MARAD MAPP MZ MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MQADHAFI
NATO NG NL NZ NT NW NO NU NS NPT NASA NI NK NSG NE NORAD NAFTA NP NATIONAL NSSP NSF NA NGO NV NR NDP NIPP NZUS NH NC NEW NRR NAR NATOPREL NPG NSC NPA NSFO
OPDC OPRC OEXC OTRA ODIP OIIP OVIP OPIC OPCW OAS OREP OSCE OSCI OES OFDP OECD OCS OIC OPAD OVP OHUM OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII
PREL PGOV PARM PINR PTER PHUM PK PREF PM PHSA PA PINS PE PBTS PCI PO PL POGOV PAK PEL PGIV PROP PP PBIO POL POLITICS POLICY PINL PBT PMIL POV PTBS PG POSTS PALESTINIAN PROV PNAT PINF PRL PAS PDOV PRAM PREO PAHO PHUMPGOV PAO PREFA PSI POLITICAL PAIGH PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PSEPC PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PGOC PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PHUMPREL
QA
RS RU RW REACTION RCMP RSO RO RP ROOD RM ROBERT RICE REGION RSP RF RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RELATIONS RFE REPORT
SY SP SOCI SMIG SNAR SCUL SC SU SO SI SENV SZ SW SA SR SF SEVN SN STEINBERG SEN SG SYR SWE SK SH SNARCS SAARC SNARIZ SPCE SARS SNARN SCRS SYRIA SL SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI SHUM SIPRS
TSPA TSPL TU TBIO TRGY TPHY TS TP TW TBID TI TF TZ TD TT TN TNGD TC TX TH TL TIP THPY TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR
US UNSC UNGA UK UP UNCHC UN UNMIK UNCSD UY USTR USOAS UNHRC UNFCYP UG UNAUS UNESCO UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR USUN UZ USNC UNCHR UNCND UNEP USEU USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF
VT VE VZ VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VM VAT VC VI
WFP WHO WBG WTRO WS WTO WI WB WMD WIPO WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WHTI
XA XR XL XK XV XF XM XE XTAG XS XB XU XG XT XX XW XY XZ XH XD XC XQ XI
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZO ZP ZR ZK ZF ZU ZL ZOELLICK ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 01PARIS11204, FRENCH VIEWS OF AFGHANISTAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #01PARIS11204.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
01PARIS11204 | 2001-10-16 05:12 | 2011-01-21 16:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Paris

`

    O 160512Z OCT 01
    FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9246
    INFO ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST COLLECTIVE
    AMEMBASSY ALMATY
    AMEMBASSY ANKARA
    AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
    AMEMBASSY BEIJING
    AMEMBASSY BERLIN
    AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
    AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
    AMEMBASSY DOHA
    AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE SUSTEL
    AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
    AMEMBASSY LONDON
    AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
    AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
    AMEMBASSY RIYADH
    AMEMBASSY ROME
    AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
    AMEMBASSY TOKYO
    USEU BRUSSELS
    USMISSION USNATO
    USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 011204

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2011
    TAGS: AF FR PK PREL
    SUBJECT: FRENCH VIEWS OF AFGHANISTAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE

    REF: STATE 176819

    CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR SHARON WIENER
    FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

    ¶1. (C) WE DELIVERED REFTEL POINTS TO FOREIGN MINISTER
    VEDRINE'S OFFICE AND TO MFA AFGHAN DESK OFFICER BRUCE BOURDON
    ON OCTOBER 11 AND FOLLOWED-UP WITH A MEETING WITH BOURDON ON
    OCTOBER 12. BOURDON TOLD US THAT THE FRENCH WERE ENGAGED IN
    DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR EU PARTNERS REGARDING AFGHANISTAN'S
    POLITICAL FUTURE. HE NOTED THESE DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN
    STIMULATED IN PART BY FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE'S
    ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN. HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT THE
    FRENCH HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY SPECIFIC COMMENTS,
    DOCUMENTS, OR PROPOSALS ABOUT WHERE TO GO NEXT IN AFGHANISTAN
    FROM THEIR EU PARTNERS. BOURDON SAID THIS LACK OF RESPONSE
    WAS PROBABLY DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS: INSUFFICIENT TIME TO
    RESPOND, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE WAR IN
    AFGHANISTAN WOULD TAKE, AND, THE CURRENT HEAVY TRAVEL
    SCHEDULE OF SENIOR MFA OFFICIALS. BOURDON NOTED VEDRINE WAS
    VISITING ROME WHERE HE WILL BE MEETING WITH FORMER KING
    MOHAMMED ZAHIR SHAH, WHILE THE MFA'S DIRECTOR FOR ASIA,
    DOMINIQUE GIRARD, IS VISITING WASHINGTON. TONGUE IN CHEEK,
    BOURDON COMMENTED THAT GIVEN GIRARD'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON, IT
    WAS LIKELY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT FRANCE'S
    POSITION ON AFGHANISTAN THAN HE WOULD. BOURDON, HOWEVER,
    MADE CLEAR THAT IN TRYING TO DEVELOP A POSITION ON
    AFGHANISTAN'S POLITICAL FUTURE, FRANCE WAS PAYING PARTICULAR
    ATTENTION TO THE OPINIONS OF THE GERMANS, BRITISH, AND
    ITALIANS. THE FRENCH WILL LISTEN POLITELY TO OTHER EU
    MEMBERS, BUT IT IS THOSE THREE COUNTRIES WHO ARE MOST
    INVOLVED IN THE CRISIS AND CONTRIBUTING THE MOST FINANCIALLY.

    ¶2. (C) BOURDON SAID HE DID NOT EXPECT ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO
    DEVELOP A COHERENT POSITION UNTIL THE COURSE OF THE WAR IN
    AFGHANISTAN BECAME A BIT CLEARER. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE
    FRENCH WERE WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY TO SEE WHETHER THE
    TALIBAN COLLAPSED OR IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HANG ON TO
    POWER FOR SOME TIME. WHILE THE FRENCH HOPE FOR A QUICK
    COLLAPSE AND A RAPID CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, THERE IS SOME
    CONCERN THAT IN A WORST CASE, THE CONFLICT COULD DRAG ON
    THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR AND WELL INTO 2002. BOURDON
    NOTED THE FRENCH WERE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON PAKISTANI
    BEHAVIOR TOWARDS AFGHANISTAN AND THE TALIBAN. HE EXPLAINED
    THAT THE FRENCH WERE UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT OF
    PAKISTAN WOULD ALLOW THE TALIBAN TO CRUMBLE, OR WHETHER THE
    GOP, OR A ROGUE ELEMENT OF THE GOP, WOULD FIND SOME MEANS TO
    PROVIDE COVERT SUPPORT TO THE TALIBAN. UNSURE ABOUT WHAT
    COMES NEXT, THE FRENCH NEVERTHELESS BELIEVE THE GOP NEEDS TO
    BE INVOLVED IN DECISIONS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN'S FUTURE AND
    THAT IT IS CRUCIAL TO FIND AFGHAN PASHTUNS WHO CAN PLAY A
    PROMINENT ROLE.

    ¶3. (C) BOURDON SAID THE FRENCH BELIEVED FORMER KING
    MOHAMMED ZAHIR SHAH WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO PLAY A VERY LIMITED
    ROLE. HE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE IMPETUS TO START A
    DIALOGUE, LOYA JIRGA, BUT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THINGS
    HIMSELF. THE FRENCH ALSO BELIEVE WE, WESTERN COUNTRIES,
    SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO NOT TRY TO IMPOSE ANY DECISIONS FROM THE
    OUTSIDE. THERE MIGHT BE A SMALL SUPERVISORY ROLE FOR THE
    UNITED NATIONS, BUT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY EFFORT TO DEPLOY
    A LARGER-SCALE UN MISSION A LA KOSOVO OR EAST TIMOR. A LARGE
    UN MISSION SIMPLY WOULD NOT WORK AND IT WOULD QUICKLY BECOME
    IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF SECURITY FOR A LARGE UN
    MISSION. THE FRENCH SEE THE UN'S ROLE AS MINIMAL, SIMPLY
    BEING A PRESENCE TO URGE FOLLOW-UP TO DECISIONS MADE BY
    AFGHANS.

    ¶4. (C) WHEN ASKED ABOUT VEDRINE'S OCTOBER 10 MEETING WITH
    LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, BOURDON (PLEASE PROTECT) REPLIED THAT
    VEDRINE WAS UP TO HIS USUAL TRICKS. HE EXPLAINED THE
    VEDRINE-BRAHIMI MEETING HAD BEEN A TETE-A-TETE AND VEDRINE
    DID NOT BOTHER TO BRIEF ANYONE IN THE MFA ABOUT THEIR
    CONVERSATION. BOURDON SAID THE ONLY THING HE KNEW CAME FROM
    ONE OF VEDRINE'S PROTOCOL OFFICERS WHO ESCORTED BRAHIMI TO
    THE MEETING. THE PROTOCOL OFFICER SAID BRAHIMI EXPRESSED THE
    VIEW THAT PAKISTAN WOULD NEED TO PLAY A ROLE IN REACHING AN
    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE AND ZAHIR SHAH'S
    SUPPORTERS. BRAHIMI ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY
    FOR THE PERSONNEL OF UN AGENCIES AND NGOS AFTER THE U.S.
    DOES ITS JOB. BRAHIMI SAID HE SAW NO WAY TO PREVENT
    INSTABILITY AND HAD NO SUGGESTIONS REGARDING HOW TO CHANGE
    THIS. A MEMBER OF FM VEDRINE'S STAFF ADDED THAT BRAHIMI TOLD
    VEDRINE THAT HE WAS APPROCHING HIS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES WITH
    NO PRECONCEPTIONS.

    LEACH

`