Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s sides have entered negotiations, Abdullah’s side said on Wednesday, amid dispute over the September 2019 election results.
Enayatullah Babur Farehmand, who ran for first vice president post alongside Abdullah, said that the sides started negotiations following the mediation of US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad.
He said that the postponement of swearing-in ceremony and stopping the appointment of provincial governor were accepted.
Farehmand said that peace has been a priority for Abdullah’s electoral team, but it is committed to defend people’s clean votes.
Ghani had planned to hold his second-term inauguration ceremony today (Thursday), but he postponed it to March 9.
US envoy Khalilzad welcomed the postponement, saying it would allow time for necessary consultations so that the best interests of Afghanistan and its people are reflected and preserved by the new government.
Khalilzad said that President Ghani and other leaders should ensure that the new government is inclusive and reflects the aspirations of all Afghans.
President Ghani’s spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, said that negotiation has not taken place with any political side so far, but the president is set to consult with different political groups and people’s representative on cabinet formation.
