Ghani, Abdullah inked power-sharing agreement to end political deadlock

KABUL: Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah have inked a pwer-sharing agreement to end the political deadlock following last year's presidential election, a government officials has confirmed.

Under the agreement signed on Sunday, Ghani remains as President, while Abdullah will head the High Council for National Reconciliation to lead the peace talks with the Taliban, reports Xinhua news agency.

Addressing a televised broadcast, President Ghani said that Afghans were able to settle their differences without mediation of foreign friends, a reference to the 2014 political dispute over election results which was later resolved with the mediation of former US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"I am hopeful the people of Afghanistan will see ceasefire in the coming days and then lasting peace in the country under the leadership of Abdullah," President Ghani said in his address.

For his part, Abdullah said: "Afghanistan has hugely suffered due to war, political instability and now COVID-19, and I am hopeful today's agreement will be the end of crisis."

Under the new agreement, Abdullah will introduce members of his team to the President to be included in the cabinet. (IANS) 

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