Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL2536
2008-09-16 12:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
TURKEY STILL WANTS DOSTUM TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3859 PP RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #2536 2601227 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161227Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5541 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002536
SIPDIS
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY STILL WANTS DOSTUM TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: A. KABUL 303
B. KABUL 399
C. KABUL 1504
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002536
SIPDIS
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY STILL WANTS DOSTUM TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: A. KABUL 303
B. KABUL 399
C. KABUL 1504
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY. A visiting Deputy Undersecretary from the
Turkish MFA told the Ambassador Turkey may host General Abdul
Rashid Dostum for a temporary stay for medical treatment in
the near future. But they still oppose a lengthy exile for
the Uzbek warlord and prefer he stay in Afghanistan to play a
productive role in the country's political system. The
Ambassador doubted Dostum would be a stabilizing force and
urged he not be in the country during the presidential
election campaign next year. The Turks will relay the
Ambassador's points to officials in Ankara and encourage
Dostum to keep a low profile.
Turks Still See Limited Role For Dostum
--------------
2. (C) Feridun Sinirlioglu, MFA Deputy Undersecretary for
the Middle East, South Asia and Iran, met the Ambassador
Sept. 14 to discuss Afghan politics and Turkey's historical
connections to Turkic ethnic groups, particularly Uzbeks, in
northern Afghanistan. Sinirlioglu said he planned to meet
Dostum, still under loose house arrest in Kabul (ref A),the
following day. We understand Karzai refused Sinirlioglu's
request for a meeting.
3. (C) Sinirlioglu said the Turkish government believes
Karzai is the only credible leader in Afghanistan, but he
needs to reach out to other groups. Sinirlioglu did not
believe Dostum would be a candidate in next year's elections.
But, he agreed that Dostum would seek to use the 10 percent
of the vote he won in 2004 to his advantage in the 2009
election.
4. (C) The Ambassador said a Karzai effort to win Uzbek
support by associating with Dostum would be problematic, a
view not unique to the U.S. government. A better solution
would be to find a comfortable exit for Dostum from Afghan
politics. Sinirlioglu said many Afghan Turks were critical
of Dostum, but respected their home-grown leader.
Sinirlioglu stressed that Turkey does not advocate an
expansion of Dostum's role in Afghan politics.
Drying Out in Turkey
--------------
5. (C) Although continuing to oppose hosting Dostum in
permanent exile (ref B),Sinirlioglu said the general may
soon travel to Turkey for alcoholism treatment. Sinirlioglu
stressed this would only be a temporary stay. The Ambassador
pointed out the benefits to Afghanistan's stability if Dostum
were out of the country during the run-up to the presidential
elections and offered to support such a compromise.
Sinirlioglu said the Turkish government still held out hopes
Dostum could use his influence positively in the Afghan
elections.
Dostum's Influence in Junbesh
--------------
6. (C) Sinirlioglu said the Turks had advised Junbesh
party leaders to gradually ease Dostum into an "honorary
place" and move forward with democratic reforms. The
Ambassador said the U.S. did not consider the Junbesh party
conference in June a success and believed Dostum allies won
out over reformers in less-than transparent circumstances
(ref C). Sinirlioglu disagreed, saying he felt the current
Junbesh leadership had adequate distance from Dostum.
Reformist candidates for the party leadership had voluntarily
withdrawn from the race.
WOOD
SIPDIS
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY STILL WANTS DOSTUM TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: A. KABUL 303
B. KABUL 399
C. KABUL 1504
Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY. A visiting Deputy Undersecretary from the
Turkish MFA told the Ambassador Turkey may host General Abdul
Rashid Dostum for a temporary stay for medical treatment in
the near future. But they still oppose a lengthy exile for
the Uzbek warlord and prefer he stay in Afghanistan to play a
productive role in the country's political system. The
Ambassador doubted Dostum would be a stabilizing force and
urged he not be in the country during the presidential
election campaign next year. The Turks will relay the
Ambassador's points to officials in Ankara and encourage
Dostum to keep a low profile.
Turks Still See Limited Role For Dostum
--------------
2. (C) Feridun Sinirlioglu, MFA Deputy Undersecretary for
the Middle East, South Asia and Iran, met the Ambassador
Sept. 14 to discuss Afghan politics and Turkey's historical
connections to Turkic ethnic groups, particularly Uzbeks, in
northern Afghanistan. Sinirlioglu said he planned to meet
Dostum, still under loose house arrest in Kabul (ref A),the
following day. We understand Karzai refused Sinirlioglu's
request for a meeting.
3. (C) Sinirlioglu said the Turkish government believes
Karzai is the only credible leader in Afghanistan, but he
needs to reach out to other groups. Sinirlioglu did not
believe Dostum would be a candidate in next year's elections.
But, he agreed that Dostum would seek to use the 10 percent
of the vote he won in 2004 to his advantage in the 2009
election.
4. (C) The Ambassador said a Karzai effort to win Uzbek
support by associating with Dostum would be problematic, a
view not unique to the U.S. government. A better solution
would be to find a comfortable exit for Dostum from Afghan
politics. Sinirlioglu said many Afghan Turks were critical
of Dostum, but respected their home-grown leader.
Sinirlioglu stressed that Turkey does not advocate an
expansion of Dostum's role in Afghan politics.
Drying Out in Turkey
--------------
5. (C) Although continuing to oppose hosting Dostum in
permanent exile (ref B),Sinirlioglu said the general may
soon travel to Turkey for alcoholism treatment. Sinirlioglu
stressed this would only be a temporary stay. The Ambassador
pointed out the benefits to Afghanistan's stability if Dostum
were out of the country during the run-up to the presidential
elections and offered to support such a compromise.
Sinirlioglu said the Turkish government still held out hopes
Dostum could use his influence positively in the Afghan
elections.
Dostum's Influence in Junbesh
--------------
6. (C) Sinirlioglu said the Turks had advised Junbesh
party leaders to gradually ease Dostum into an "honorary
place" and move forward with democratic reforms. The
Ambassador said the U.S. did not consider the Junbesh party
conference in June a success and believed Dostum allies won
out over reformers in less-than transparent circumstances
(ref C). Sinirlioglu disagreed, saying he felt the current
Junbesh leadership had adequate distance from Dostum.
Reformist candidates for the party leadership had voluntarily
withdrawn from the race.
WOOD