KABUL (SW) – Offices of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah vowed to have preparations in place for separate oath taking ceremonies for the top office on Monday amid raging electoral dispute.
Invitations have been sent to political representatives of different countries and local guests by the Arg (presidency) and the CE's office. The two leaders have apparently invited each other as well to their conflicting oath taking ceremonies.
Reports suggest, the U.S. is working to prevent the events. A source at the presidency told Salam Watandar that the efforts of Zalmay Khalilzad, the US State Department's special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, to prevent these oath taking ceremonies have so far yield no results.
On the other hand, Fazl Ahmad Manawi, a senior member of the electoral bloc led by Abdullah Abdullah, said Khalilzad has today exchanged messages twice between the President and CE. He added doors for dialogue are still open.
Deputy spokesman for the Arg, Dawa Khan Minepal, confirmed all is set for the oath taking ceremony for President Ghani.
Reuters reported quoting western diplomats that the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan are angry about two contrasting oath taking ceremonies. The embassies have received invitations from both sides and diplomats do not know if they should attend either of these ceremonies, according to the source.
The main concern of the diplomats is that the deadlock will undermine the peace process, it added.
ENDS
