India welcomes power-sharing deal between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah

Tensions had risen after Abdullah, who served as ‘chief executive’ of the Ghani-led Afghan government during his first term from September 2014 to September 2019, refused to accept poll results last year which said Ghana winner.

In fact, Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah were sworn in as presidents in parallel ceremonies on the same day, i.e. March 9 in Kabul.

On Sunday, the two rivals agreed on a new power-sharing deal, which experts say could help lift Afghanistan out of its political crisis, media reported. The accord appoints Abdullah to lead future peace talks with the Taliban rebels, who have already signed a landmark agreement with the United States to pave the way for the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces from Afghanistan. The US-Taliban pact was signed on February 29. No other details of the Ghani-Abdullah pact were specified.

In a statement, India’s Foreign Ministry said: “India has always stood for inclusive governance, national unity, strong institutions, constitutional order, rights of all sections of society and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.”

“India hopes that the political agreement and the establishment of the High Council for National Reconciliation will result in renewed efforts to establish lasting peace and stability and end externally sponsored terrorism and violence,” did he declare.

New Delhi, which has close ties with Abdullah, however, recognized the Ghani government in Kabul and pledged its full support. New Delhi sheltered Abdullah’s immediate family in India in addition to providing aid and medical aid to thousands of Afghans. This is without counting the 3 billion dollars that he promised as aid for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

In its statement, New Delhi also expressed concern over what it called “the continued and escalating violence and terror in Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. India calls for an immediate ceasefire and assistance to the Afghan people to deal with the humanitarian situation resulting from covid-19.”

The remark referred to a spike in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, with one such incident last week targeting newborns and mothers at a Kabul hospital. The Taliban denied having participated in the attack on the hospital.