US confirms position on elections amid deepening tensions

KABUL (Agencies): The State Department released a statement emphasizing on handling of concerns regarding Afghan presidential elections in accordance with the ‘constitutional and legal procedures’.

The Department of State in a statement said it ‘notes the announcement on February 18, 2020 by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan on the results of the presidential election held September 28, 2019 in favor of President Ashraf Ghani.’

However, the State Department added in its statement that ‘Concerns have been raised about the election process.

‘We expect these concerns to be handled in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures, the statement said, adding that ‘Moving forward, we call on the new government to be inclusive and reflect the aspirations of all Afghans.

This comes as tensions are escalating on political level following the announcement of final election results on February 18th.

The Chief Executive of the Unity Government and one of the forerunners of the elections, Abdullah Abdullah rejected the results as ‘fraudulent’ and vowed to establish a parallel government.

Meanwhile, the State Department said ‘The country’s leaders and their supporters should ensure that political debate is carried out in a calm manner, free from the use or threat of violence.

The statement also added ‘They should also desist from destabilizing actions, including purported efforts to establish parallel government structures inconsistent with the constitution and rule of law.

According to State Department ‘Such moves call into question the country’s sovereignty and unity that the United States strongly supports.

On the other hand, the State Department said ‘The Afghan people want peace. It is time to focus not on electoral politics, but on taking steps toward a lasting peace, ending the war with the Taliban, and finding a formula for a political settlement that can serve the interests of all of this country’s citizens through intra-Afghan negotiations we expect will begin in March.