Ghani to Become Afghanistan's Next President; US Seeks Security Pact

By Staff Reporter - 22 Sep '14 06:52AM

Putting an end to weeks of political uncertainty, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was declared the next President of Afghanistan after a power-sharing deal was reached upon with his rival.

"The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan declares Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as the president of Afghanistan," said Commission Chief Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani, Reuters reports.

The decision has set the stage for outgoing President Hamid Karzai's departure from office and a crucial security agreement, due to be signed within a week, paves the way for American troops to stay in the country beyond this year, Bloomberg reports.

Karzai had refused to sign a long-term security agreement allowing around 15,000 foreign troops to continue to remain in the country even after the official NATO assignment ends this year, The Washington Post reports. The United States has welcomed the deal.

Ghani will be the country's second leader since the 2001 U.S. invasion.

Ending three months of standoff regarding disputed elections, Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah reached an agreement Sunday. The political uncertainty had paralysed the country at an important moment as the US-led troops were due to leave after 13 years of war against the Taliban, AFP reports.

"The mediation efforts by the U.S. and others since June have paid off for now. They cannot dismiss the investments of the past 13 years nor can they jeopardize the security situation at a time when the Middle East and Islamic countries are facing new challenges in the form of ISIS," Omar Samad, a former Afghan ambassador to France, told Bloomberg.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Afghanistan and called this a "moment of extraordinary statesmanship" in which the leaders kept aside their personal interests just for the sake of the country.

While 65-year-old Ghani, a former World Bank economist, will become the President, runner-up Abdullah Abdullah, 54, will be appointed as the country's new chief executive officer.