UN chief says he is encouraged by pact between Afghan prez Ghani, Abdullah

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is encouraged by the agreement between Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, saying it will help find a way to enable progress towards intra-Afghan negotiations and a comprehensive peace agreement.

As per the deal, Ghani will stay as the president while Abdullah will helm the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) with executive authority and his team will have a 50 per cent share in the Cabinet, according to reports.

The HCNR has been mandated to lead future peace talks including with the Taliban. Abdullah served as the chief executive in the previous government led by Ghani.

St phane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said Guterres hopes that the agreement between Ghani and Abdullah can enable a progress towards intra-Afghan negotiations and a comprehensive peace agreement, as well as addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 response and other developments and humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.

For his part, the Secretary-General is encouraged by the leaders overcoming more than two months of political impasse and finding a way forward based on compromise, dialogue and inclusivity, Dujarric told reporters on Monday.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also welcomed the agreement reached between Ghani and Abdullah to resolve the political impasse and enable the leaders to address the grave challenges facing the country.

The mission acknowledges that both sides had to make compromises to reach this important agreement.