Alexander
GA Member
- Oct 11, 2023
- 437
While Central Asia had so far not been a priority for the French state and likely wasn't going to be one for a while still, the London attacks caused a shift in focus. What information they had about al-Qaeda was that it was linked to the Taliban and had ties to Afghanistan. But the sheer lack of information available to the government made it clear that they were going to need to foster contacts in the region if they were to protect French interests. At the same time the unstable nature of the government in Kabul and the fact that it could not be ruled out entirely that the government was involved with the terrorists meant that a direct outreach from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs was simply too risky. Instead a different agency, isolated from Parliament and political responsibility, would need to establish initial contacts. With that in mind the DGSE, the French foreign intelligence agency would establish communications with the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs.
From: Pierre Brochand, Director, Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure
To: Yusuf Agha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan Grant
CC:
Classification: Top Secret
Subject: War against al-Qaeda
Your Excellency,
As you are undoubtedly aware London was recently attacked by terrorists from the al-Qaeda organization and in direct response the Empire of France has declared a war on terror in general and against al-Qaeda in particular.
It is the belief of my agency that in this endeavour France and your government find ourselves on the same wavelength and that the defeat of al-Qaeda and any linked group such as the Taliban would be in the mutual interest of both our states. For this purpose I have been asked to establish, initially, clandestine connections with your government to share information and possibly to provide direct support to Afghanistan to combat the terrorists that endanger your own population as well.
Should you agree to this goal I would like to propose a meeting between one of my agents and a member of your administration in either Afghanistan or in a third country. Due to the sensitive nature of this endeavour I ask that regardless of your response this message is kept secret within your office as well.
Sincerely,
Pierre Brochand
To: Yusuf Agha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan Grant
CC:
Classification: Top Secret
Subject: War against al-Qaeda
Your Excellency,
As you are undoubtedly aware London was recently attacked by terrorists from the al-Qaeda organization and in direct response the Empire of France has declared a war on terror in general and against al-Qaeda in particular.
It is the belief of my agency that in this endeavour France and your government find ourselves on the same wavelength and that the defeat of al-Qaeda and any linked group such as the Taliban would be in the mutual interest of both our states. For this purpose I have been asked to establish, initially, clandestine connections with your government to share information and possibly to provide direct support to Afghanistan to combat the terrorists that endanger your own population as well.
Should you agree to this goal I would like to propose a meeting between one of my agents and a member of your administration in either Afghanistan or in a third country. Due to the sensitive nature of this endeavour I ask that regardless of your response this message is kept secret within your office as well.
Sincerely,
Pierre Brochand
