For months, Afghanistan's two rival presidential candidates – Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah – have exchanged mutual blame and accusations of poll fraud, leaving the country without effective leadership. The political stalemate has hurt the economy and inflamed a security situation at a critical time when the US-led military coalition prepares to withdraw its troops.
As The National reported yesterday, that standoff has been brought to an end via a unity agreement. The deal will enable Mr Ghani, who has been declared president, to share power with Mr Abdullah as his chief executive.
Many of the millions of Afghans who defied the Taliban to vote in a landmark presidential election in April, will rightly argue that a unity government is not the answer they were looking for. But it will, at least, bring some much needed stability. It also gives those in power an opportunity to tackle militancy and rebuild a country that has been ravaged by decades of conflict.
The task will not be easy for Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah, especially as they belong to different communities, representing Afghanistan’s ethnic and geographic divisions.
Mr Ghani is a Pashtun who enjoys the support of the people from the country’s south and east, while Mr Abdullah has the backing of the Hazara and Tajik communities in the north. But this division also brings an opportunity for them to represent the entire population.
There are many challenges. With winter approaching, the Taliban has stepped up its activities. The country’s economy is in tatters, with officials warning that it is on the verge of bankruptcy, while corruption is widespread. At the same time, the extended political process has left many Afghans suspicious of politicians. They need to have confidence in a government that will unite them and help put the economy back on its feet.
Both leaders must now rise above their personal political interests. The Afghan people need a real unity government – not merely power sharing between two politicians.
