AFGHANISTAN RIVALS AGREE TO EQUAL SHARE OF POWER

▶ Settlement of Ghani and Abdullah’s dispute clears path for peace talks with Taliban militants

Months of uncertainty in Afghanistan ended yesterday when a political agreement was signed between President Ashraf Ghani and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, with both leaders to share power equally.

The deal confirms Mr Ghani as president and Dr Abdullah as chairman of the National Reconciliation High Council, the leading role in peace negotiations with the Taliban, which have been postponed for several months. Each leader will appoint an equal number of Cabinet ministers.

“The agreement signed today is not a privilege or a handout. It is rooted in the last election and every clean vote,” Dr Abdullah tweeted. He said that both leaders would be committing to a more inclusive, accountable and competent administration.

“It comes at a very difficult time, when we face serious threats. It is meant to ensure a path to peace, improve governance, protect rights, respect laws and values,” he said. Yesterday’s agreement was welcomed internationally, with Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, saying that “it is more important than ever that all Afghan leaders unite and work towards enduring peace in Afghanistan” and calling on the Taliban to reduce violence and take part in intra-Afghan negotiations.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the deal, but chided Mr Ghani and Dr Abdullah for taking so long.

Mr Pompeo “regretted the time lost during the political impasse”, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

Under the agreement, Afghanistan’s former vice president, Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum, who has backed Dr Abdullah, will be promoted. Gen Dostum is an Uzbek warlord accused of human rights abuses, including ordering torture and rape, although he denies the allegations.

Tensions initially escalated after the results of the presidential elections, which were announced in February five months after the polls in which only 1.8 million of the 9.6 million registered voters cast a ballot owing to security concerns and distrust.

Mr Ghani was announced the winner with 50.64 per cent of the vote, while Mr Abdullah gained 39.5 per cent, a result he dismissed at the time and proclaimed fraudulent.

In reponse to the post-election uncertainty, the US cut $1 billion (Dh3.67bn) in aid to the country, almost a fifth of Afghanistan’s annual budget.