FALSE RUMORS OF ABDULLAH'S CABINET LIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002917 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: FALSE RUMORS OF ABDULLAH'S CABINET LIST Classified By: Acting PolCouns Victoria Alvarado for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Afghan politicians are abuzz over rumors that Abdullah has released his cabinet list, although Abdullah's spokesperson has announced that the list did not originate from the Abdullah campaign. Abdullah and many of Abdullah's supposed ministerial picks accuse the Karzai campaign of spreading these false rumors to demonstrate that Abdullah is too Tajik-focused and weak. Many politicians have interpreted these rumors as truth. The rumor mill will continue to run on full speed during this prolonged and contentious presidential elections waiting period. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Abdullah's spokesperson Sayeed Aqa Hussain Sancharaki, listed as the Higher Education Minister, told us that the list was "political gaming" by the Karzai campaign. He said the list originally surfaced on a Taliban-friendly website, and later was picked up by a Karzai-friendly daily newspaper. He said it was an "absolute fabrication" launched to discredit the Abdullah campaign and make them appear to be weak, since many politicians on the list are considered second-tier, and too Panjshir Tajik focused, as Tajiks comprise a considerable proportion of the list. The so-called Abdullah pick for Foreign Minister, Sayed Ishaq Gailani (Pashtun, Paktika),told us the list was not even worth talking about. On September 16, Abdullah personally confirmed with us that the list is a Karzai camp fabrication meant to discredit him. ¶3. (C) MP Ahmad Behzad (Tajik, Herat),who is listed as the future Economic Minister, laughed when we asked him about the list. He said "I am not qualified to be a minister," noting that he has never received a college education. He said it was true that many politicians were talking about it, but that most recognized it was a hoax. At an Iftar dinner at the Embassy, however, Senator Rida Azimi (Tajik, Parwan) and MP Fatima Aziz (Tajik, Kunduz),along with a group of female business and civil society leaders, recounted that they, and most other political watchers, took these rumors as truth, since they were announced by Abdullah-supporter MP Malalai Ishaqzai (Pashtun, Kandahar). ¶4. The following is the list as it appeared on the internet. Note that the "son of Rabbani" is Salahuddin Rabbani, and Registani is Abdullah political advisor Saleh Mohammad Registani. We kept the list in its original form, as it further lends credence to the false nature of the list, as the campaign would never list someone as simply "the son of" someone else. MOD: Noorulhaq Ulomi MOI: Said Husain Anwari FM: Said Ishaq Gailani IDLG: Atta Mohammad Noor NDS: Gen. Daoud Daoud Higher Ed: Fazel Sancharaki Water and Energy: Rahman Oghlay Finance: Mustafa Mastoor Refugees: Siddiqullah Tawhidi Tribal and Border Affairs: Raz Mohammad Dalili Information: Abdul Hafiz Mansor Religious Affairs: Waqef Hakimi Agriculture: Baryalai Arsalaee Women's Affairs: Shikiba Hashimi Youth: Fahim Dashti Public Health: Gulab Ali Urban Development: Satar Murad Justice: Registani Education: Najiba Sharif Transportation: Daoud Sultanzoy Mines and Industries: Taj Mohammad Wardak Commerce: Mohammad Naeem Farahi Communication: Eng. Asem Labor and Social Affairs: Malalai Ishaqzai Economy: Ahmad Behzad Parliamentary Affairs and the Director General of OAA: Son of Professor Rabbani ¶5. (C) Comment: The two leading campaigns continue to jockey for the upper hand in the press, and this supposed Karzai move was probably a political win for Karzai, as many in both the international community and the political scene criticized the list for not having many women, and for being too Tajik-heavy. As the prolonged waiting period continues, we should expect more of these rumors from both sides. EIKENBERRY