PRT/KUNDUZ NEW POLICE CHIEF IN KUNDUZ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002829 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, S/CRS, SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER AF SUBJECT: PRT/KUNDUZ NEW POLICE CHIEF IN KUNDUZ PROVINCE. KABUL 00002829 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Note: Below is the first reporting shared with the Embassy by the German PRT in Konduz. We hope to make this a precedent, not only for the Germans but for the other non-US PRTs as well. We are working with ISAF, as part of its PRT Coherence Plan to pool as much PRT reporting as possible, and began sharing much of our reporting and/our PRT Weekly months ago. This reciprocity is an encouraging step. Informal embassy translation follows: ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Kunduzs new police chief, General Sayed Ahmed Same, formerly the Chief of Police in Samangan Province, took office today (June 6). The former COP in Kunduz, General Mutalib Beg, has been relieved of his duties, and we are not certain about any future assignment for him. The hand-over took place on June 5, and was attended by many provincial notables and PRT officials. General Same has the reputation of being honest and loyal to the government. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) Details: The former Chief of Police of Samangan, General Same, was sworn in yesterday as the Chief of Police of Kunduz, with surprisingly little advance notice, in a ceremony attended by by some 300 religious and civil provincial leaders from all districts of the province. The PRT was represented by both civilian and military leaders. Former Police Chief General Mutalib Beg was given an honorable farewell (representatives of the elders and mullahs shuras gave him a rousing God is great chorus, which seldom is given to non-religious officials). Although Mutalib for the time being has no onward posting, he told the PRT that he hoped to be nominated as governor, either of Kunduz or Takhar. Mutalib is very influential in the region, both as Dostums man and as a former high-ranking mujahideen, and he will remain so, even without a public position. His successor is also Uzbek, although we do not know if he has close ties to Dostum. He began his career in the police, but switched to the army during the time of Najibullah, fighting the Soviets, like his predecessor, as a mujahideen commander. We do not (yet) know any particulars of his activities during the civil war and Taliban liban period. Just three years ago, he resumed his police service as CoP in Samangan. He is known in police circles as loyal to the government and apolitical. We have no knowledge of any ties to opposition fighters/insurgents. ¶4. (SBU) The loser in the rebalancing of the police leadership in Kunduz is deputy Police Chief General Razak, who is supposed to be reassigned as Deputy Police Chief in Helmand, but who is trying to remain in Kunduz for family reasons (his son is currently being treated at the PRT hospital). Razak is outspokenly pro-German and, in the estimation of the PRT, one of the very few government officials in either Kunduz or Takhar who exhibits high professional integrity and KABUL 00002829 002.2 OF 002 competence. His departure from Kunduz will significantly weaken the police restructuring and reform in the province. The PRT recommends that the (German) Embassy intervene in his favor in Kabul. ¶5. (SBU) Analysis: The change in the police leadership in Kunduz took place with little tle disruption. In their remarks at the change-over ceremony, the incoming as well as the outgoing Police Chief expressed strong support for continued cooperation with the PRT on security and police reform issues. General Same made a very promising impression. Mutalib departed graciously, perhaps awaiting higher responsibilities; whether they will be in either of the German PRT provinces (i.e., Takhar or Kunduz) remains to be seen. End Unofficial Translation ¶6. Embassy Comment: The State Department PRTOff assigned to Konduz concurs with the German description of the event and the analysis. If we could get regular reporting like this from all ISAF PRTs, it would take some of the pressure off of us to have DOS reps at many PRTs in the north. End Comment. NEUMANN