Balkh Governor Atta Mohammad Noor on Sunday met former warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, now chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the army, to discuss the upcoming elections and post-2014 challenges.
The two are among the most powerful figures in northern Afghanistan. They discussed coordination and alliances among political parties ahead of the presidential elections in 2014.
"The two figures discussed security issues after the withdrawal of foreign troops, presidential elections and coordination of political parties in the elections," Balkh Provincial Spokesman Ahmad Farhad Munir said.
Atta has expressed interest in potentially running for president and is doing the complex work of establishing coalitions and securing allegiances.
Dostum and Atta were bitter enemies in the past, having been on the opposite sides of the civil war and subsequent conflicts. But Atta's spokesman added that the meeting was cordial.