Daily Times

US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who was involved in efforts to reduce political tensions in Kabul ahead of signing a landmark peace deal with the Taliban, said on Wednesday that President Asharf Ghani has postponed his oath-taking ceremony amid calls by his political rivals for an inclusive government.

Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who claimed victory in the September presidential elections, had announced to form a parallel government but also dropped the plan of his inauguration in response to Ghani’s decision.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has announced the postponement of tomorrow’s (Thursday) planned presidential inauguration ceremony. I welcome President Ghani’s decision to postpone the event until March 9,” Khalilzad wrote on twitter.

“This will allow time for necessary consultations so that the best interests of Afghanistan and its people are reflected and preserved by the new government. As the electoral process has concluded, President Ghani, as the declared winner, and other leaders should ensure that the new government is inclusive and reflects the aspirations of all Afghans,” said the US envoy, who secured a deal for the Trump administration.

The Taliban and the US are scheduled to ink the agreement in the presence of representatives from over 20 countries and UN, OIC and EU officials.

Daily Times has learnt that the Taliban have invited over 25 of their leaders to the ceremony to be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the Taliban have political headquarters.

Although Abdullah has postponed his presidential inauguration, his spokesman told the media in Kabul that there is no change in their stance of not recognizing Ghani as the president.

The Ghani administration had invited foreign delegates, including political leaders from Pakistan, and other countries and the Hamid Karzai’s international airport was decorated with Afghanistan’s national flags to welcome foreign guests.

The presidential palace played down postponement of the swearing-in ceremony and said the ceremony was postponed due to the “spread of coronavirus” and that more time was needed for preparations for the welcoming of the foreign guests.

Dawa Khan Meenapal, a presidential spokesman in reported remarks ruled out continuation of the chief executive office. He said President Ashraf Ghani has been declared as the winner and he will be administered the oath as the president.

Ghani’s rivals met again in Kabul on Wednesday at the residence of Jamiat-e-Islami chief Salahuddin Rabbani to review their strategy in view of the new development but it seems there is no change in their position.

Abdullah, who attended the meeting, wrote on his official Facebook page that what he called the “fake result of the presidential election” is not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan.

He said the leaders agreed that a strategy should be adopted so the election crisis does not affect the peace process.

Former President Hamid Karzai, Hizb-e-Islami chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, heads of their own Hizb-e-Wahdat factions Mohammad Muhaqiq and Karim Khalili and Jujnbish-e-Milli leader Batoor Dostam. The presidential palace said the ceremony was postponed due to the “spread of coronavirus” and that more time was needed for preparations for the welcoming of the foreign guests. The week-long reduction in violence continued on 5th day on Wednesday and there is relatively calm across the country. A bomb attached to a motorbike injured at least 9 people, including a woman, in Kabul, the interior ministry said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid quickly denied involvement.

Mujahid blamed “sinister intelligence circles” for the blast and said the incident was aimed at creating mistrust.

The Afghan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that a security official and four civilians were killed in various Taliban attacks in five provinces on the 5th day of the reduction in violence period. Taliban have not commented on the government’s claim.