JUNBESH, DOSTUM RESOLVE DIFFERENCES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000215 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV AF TU SUBJECT: JUNBESH, DOSTUM RESOLVE DIFFERENCES REF: KABUL 11 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Stacy Nichols for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum and Junbesh-e-Milli Chairman Sayed Noorullah have apparently resolved their differences over Noorullah's leadership of the majority-Uzbek party, according to several Afghan Uzbek sources. Unhappy with Noorullah's reform-minded goals to distance the party from its military past, Dostum agitated for Noorullah's removal soon after the general departed Afghanistan for Turkey Nov. 30 (reftel). Meanwhile, other Junbesh members, some alleging Dostum had personally asked them to take over as party chairman, attempted to marginalize Noorullah among the party's grassroots supporters. According to most Junbesh members, Noorullah is now firmly in charge of the party after visiting Dostum in Turkey earlier this month. ¶2. (C) Junbesh member and MP Shaker Kargar (Faryab, Uzbek) said Noorullah and top Junbesh lieutenant MP Faizullah Zaki (Jowzjan, Uzbek) struck a deal with Dostum to end the intra-party dispute. Dostum, weakened by his alcoholism and history of violent outbursts, agreed to stay out of day-to-day party affairs. In return, Noorullah promised to protect Dostum's status as party elder and beloved military commander among Afghanistan's Uzbek and Turkmen communities. If differences re-emerge or Dostum decides to return to Afghanistan, Dostum said he would wait until the next party conference to challenge Noorullah's status as chairman. ¶3. (C) The Turkish Consul General in Mazar-e-Sharif told PRToff the Turkish government was working to preserve the delicate balance between Dostum and Noorullah. Turkey has invested heavily in Noorullah's chairmanship of the party, but recognizes that his popular support pales in comparison to Dostum's. The CG said he has been meeting with Uzbek elders upset at Noorullah's role in Dostum's departure to convince them to fall into line behind the party's new leadership. He added that Noorullah will need to spend more time massaging the concerns of Dostum supporters if he wants his reform agenda to take hold among rank-and-file party members -- especially if Noorullah's preferred candidate in this year's presidential election differs from Dostum's endorsement. WOOD