Abdullah Is Clear Front Runner in Afghan Election

Abdullah Abdullah, a longtime opponent of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, emerged Saturday as the clear front-runner in Afghanistan’s presidential election. In preliminary results released today, Abdullah had won 45 percent of the vote, not enough to avoid a runoff with Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank economist and a Karzai advisor, who had won 32 percent. (The New York Times, 26 April)

Abdullah, if he wins in the second round, would be expected to sign bilateral security agreement with the United States. He has been a harsh critic of Karzai on the issue, saying Karzai’s refusal to sign the BSA had imperiled Afghanistan’s security in the midst of a war. U.S. and NATO have said without the BSA, they would not retain any troops in the country beyond their major drawdown of forces in December.

In a sign of alignment of U.S. and Iranian interests in Afghanistan, Iran was also seen as favoring Abdullah’s presidency.

Photo credit: Abdullah Abdullah, shown at his residence in Kabul on Thursday 24 April 2014. (The New York Times)

Abdullah, Ghani Lead in Afghan Election

Rassoul Trailing at Distant Third

Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) today released partial results of the country’s presidential election. Out of 10 percent of the votes tabulated so far, Abdullah Abdullah has 41.9% and Ashraf Ghani 37.6%, with Zalmay Rassoul trailing at a distant third with 9.8%.

If today’s trends hold, Abdullah and Ghani will face each other in the run-off election scheduled for late May.

Abdullah will be counting on Rassoul’s supporters to win in the second round, but that victory is not automatic if the percentage of his votes remains around 40%. Ghani will then count on Pashtun supporters of Rassoul to put him on top. This could be a very close election.

Meanwhile, President Hamid Karzai and his political machine lost today; Karzai’s favorite candidate, Zalmay Rassoul, which was also supported by Karzai’s brothers and his top lieutenants, could only pull less than 10% of the votes.

But the biggest losers were the Taliban. The Afghan people defied their threats and intimidations and in huge numbers, men and women alike, participated in a generally orderly electoral process to choose a successor to Karzai. This will be the first peaceful transition of power in Afghan history.

Photo credit: Zalmay Rassoul (l), Abdullah Abdullah (c) and Ashraf Ghani. (tagesschau.de)

Karzai in Tehran

Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Tehran today for a series of meetings with senior Iranian officials. The Iranians are pushing Karzai to continue his refusal to sign the bilateral security pact with the U.S.

A Karzai-appointed Loya Jirga last month approved the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) to allow and regulate the presence of some U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the drawdown of U.S. and NATO forces at the end of 2014, but Karzai’s decision not to sign the accord could force the U.S. to exercise the so-called “Zero Option,” a total withdrawal from the country in one year. The Taliban also favor the Zero Option.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted today about close Iran-Afghan ties after meeting with Karzai at Saadabad Palace in Tehran.

“Iran and Afghanistan enjoy fraternal ties. Welfare and security of Afghan people will increase regional co-operation and development,” tweeted Rouhani.  ‪(Twitter/@hassanRouhani, 8 December)

Photo credit: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani greeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai (foreground) at Saadabad Palace in Tehran. 8 December 2013. (Twitter/@HassanRouhani)

Iran Hosts Afghan Taliban Delegation

First Official Visit to Islamic Republic

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported today that Tehran has hosted an Afghan Taliban delegation. The Taliban had come from Doha, Qatar, where they have recently opened a representative office. Fars said the delegation held talks with Iranian intelligence officials, without disclosing any details. This is the first time that an official Taliban delegation visits the Islamic Republic.

The Associated Press reporting on the visit said it signals Iran could be seeking the role of a regional mediator between the Taliban and Karzai’s government. (AP, 1 June)

File photo: Taliban officials (Press TV)

Karzai in Qatar to Discuss Peace Process

Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Doha and has met with the Emir of Qatar to discuss the opening of a Taliban office in Doha and the peace process involving the factions that form the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. (AP, 31 March)

The peace talks have found urgency as the U.S. and NATO troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) said Karzai met with the emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and other senior government officials on Sunday. It also said he held talks with Qatar's ambassador to Pakistan.



Photo credit: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (l) arriving in Doha airport for talks with the Emir of Qatar. 30 march 2013 (QNA)