KABUL: (NewsPulse/Afgan media) After months of dispute Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday,
ending a bitter months-long feud that plunged the country into a political crisis.
The breakthrough, which sees Abdullah heading peace talks with the Taliban, comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus and surging militant violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.
“Doctor Abdullah Abdullah will lead the National Reconciliation High Commission and members of his team will be included in the cabinet,” Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for Ghani, wrote on Twitter.
Abdullah s spokesman, Fraidoon Khawzoon told Media the agreement ensures Abdullah s group gets 50 percent of the cabinet and other provincial governors posts.
President Asharaf Ghani said it was a “historic day” for Afghanistan and that the agreement was reached without any international mediation.
“We will share the burden and our shoulders, God willing, will be lighter,” he said, addressing Abdullah at the signing ceremony broadcast on a state-run television channel.
“In the days ahead, we hope that with unity and cooperation, we would be able to first pave the ground for a ceasefire and then lasting peace.”
Abdullah Abdullah said the deal commits to forming a “more inclusive, accountable and competent administration”.
“It meant to ensure a path to peace, improve governance, protect rights, respect laws and values, he said on Twitter after signing the deal.
NATO, which maintains a training mission in Afghanistan, hailed the agreement and urged Afghan leaders and the Taliban to work for peace.
“We call on the Taliban to live up to their commitments, reduce violence now, take part in intra-Afghan negotiations, and make a real compromise for lasting peace,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
The agreement further says that President Ashraf Ghani will make Abdul Rasheed Dostum, his former vice president turned ally of Abdullah, a marshal of the armed forces.
Rasheed Dostum, a notorious former warlord, is accused of ordering the torture and rape of a political rival in 2016.
The agreement names Abdullah to lead future peace talks with the Taliban, who have already signed a landmark accord with Washington to pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.