Ashraf Ghani Archives - Iran News Daily

Afghanistan Ghani Orders Release of 500 Taliban Prisoners

reporter 1222 — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 09:26:39 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the release of 500 Taliban prisoners as part of a new ceasefire that could lead to long-delayed peace talks.

Ghani said on Friday they would be freed during the Eid Al-Adha holiday, which started Friday and has prompted a national cease-fire for three days, Reuters reported.

The release would reportedly complete the government’s pledge to free 5,000 Taliban members as outlined in a deal the fighters signed with Washington, he said.

“To show goodwill and accelerate the peace talks, we will release 500 Taliban prisoners in response to the group’s three-day cease-fire announcement,” Ghani said in an Eid speech.

However, the 500 inmates are not on the original list of 5,000 demanded by the Taliban.

Kabul authorities have already released 4,600 of those prisoners but are hesitating about the release of the final 400, deeming them too dangerous.

“I do not have the right to decide on the release of those 400 Taliban prisoners who are accused of serious crimes,” Ghani said, adding that a gathering of Afghan elders would decide their fate.

The Taliban, who have insisted on the release of those 400, did not immediately comment.

The so-called US-Taliban accord signed in February stipulated Kabul would release 5,000 insurgents in return for 1,000 government forces held captive by the group.

Late Thursday, the Taliban said they had completed the release of all 1,000 government prisoners.

The contentious prisoner swap is a key precondition for peace talks.

Both Ghani and the Taliban signaled this week they were ready for talks after Eid, provided the prisoner swap is complete.

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Ghani Urges Regional Support for Afghanistan Peace

reporter 1222 — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 07:55:15 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said that regional and neighboring countries’ support will help the country to achieve its goals for peace.

Ghani on Monday afternoon spoke at the opening of an international meeting on “strengthening regional consensus for peace,” stressing the need for the support of neighboring and regional countries to participate in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported.

Representatives of 19 countries and international organizations attended the virtual meeting that was held at the Presidential Palace.

“We all are faced with the threat of terrorism, regional crime networks and extremism,” Ghani said. “The logic thought is that we stay together and Afghanistan as a roundabout of regional cooperation can play a good role in regional stability and prosperity.”

He said that international consensus to end the war is there, adding that “the support of regional and neighboring countries for regional consensus will help Afghanistan to achieve its goals on peace.”

On peace, Ghani said that “the peace process will face serious challenges if the Taliban continue the war.”

“Unfortunately, the violence level is high compared to the last year,” he said, claiming, “Recent reports by the UN showed that the Taliban is yet to implement their commitments– and maintain their ties with terrorist networks.”

Ghani said that the Afghan government has made big steps with the prisoner release, calling on the Taliban to abandon violence and release the Afghan prisoners.

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Iranian President: We Keep Supporting Afghanistan amid COVID-19

reporter 1222 — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:06:23 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged that the Afghanistan migrants in Iran will continue to receive free medical support amid the outbreak of the COVID-19.

In a telephone conversation with his Afghan counterpart on Monday, Rouhani pointed to Iran’s success in tackling the novel coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the Islamic Republic will keep providing the Afghan migrants with free medical services and treatment.

He also emphasized that Iran’s foreign policy is based upon the promotion of brotherly and friendly ties and cooperation with all neighbors, particularly with Afghanistan.

“We consider growing stability and security in Afghanistan to be in line with the promotion of our own stability and security, and believe that differences between groups (in Afghanistan) would be resolved through negotiations and within the framework of principles, and we always stand by the Afghan government and nation on this path.”

Congratulating Ghani on his new term as the president of Afghanistan, Rouhani hailed the recent compromise among Afghan political groups and expressed hope that the efforts by all governmental bodies and the High Council for National Reconciliation would contribute to peace, stability, and security in Afghanistan.

The Iranian president also hailed the growing relations between Tehran and Kabul, saying, “We must try to speed up the implementation of agreements and joint projects, including the Khaf-Herat railroad which is a major economic project between the two countries.”

He said the completion of a railroad project in southeast Iran connecting the port city of Chabahar to Zahedan within the next year would help promote transportation and freight services in the region.

For his part, Ghani expressed gratitude to the Iranian government and nation for offering medical services to the Afghan migrants in the battle with COVID-19.

Highlighting Iran’s constructive role in regional stability and security, he called on Iran to support the process of peace and negotiations in Afghanistan.

Ghani further hailed the growing relations between Iran and Afghanistan in various fields and expressed hope that the efforts by the two countries’ officials would broaden cooperation between the two neighbors.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran in February, the Afghan migrants and residents in the country have received free medical supplies such as disinfectants, masks, and gloves.

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Tractor Midfielder Sugita Joins Swedish Club Sirius

reporter 1222 — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:58:41 +0000

Tractor Midfielder Sugita Joins Swedish Club Sirius

According To Iran News, Tractor Japanese midfielder Yukiya Sugita joined Swedish club IK Sirius.

The 26-year-old player has joined Sirius until summer for an undisclosed fee.

Sugita joined Tractor in 2018 and played 30 matches for the Iranian club, scoring two goals for the Tabriz-based football team.

He was a member of Swedish club Dalkurd Fotbollsförening before joining Tractor.

IK Sirius, more commonly known simply as Sirius, is a Swedish football club located in Uppsala. The club is affiliated to the Upplands Fotbollförbund.

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Ashraf Ghani Sworn In for Second Term

reporter 1222 — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:01:24 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday as his rival Abdullah Abdullah held a parallel inauguration that could plunge the country deeper into crisis ahead of peace talks with the Taliban.

“I swear by the name of God that I shall obey and protect the holy religion of Islam, respect and supervise the implementation of the constitution”, Ashraf Ghani said at an oath-taking ceremony of his second term attended by hundreds of people, including visiting foreign dignitaries, diplomats, and senior political figures, AFP reported.

Afghan challenger Abdullah Abdullah inaugurated himself as president, minutes after the incumbent Ghani was sworn into office for a second term, deepening a political crisis that has stoked fears for upcoming peace talks with a strong Taliban.

Ghani was declared as the winner of the election held last September, but Abdullah, who disputed the vote, held a parallel ceremony surrounded by hundreds of supporters during which he vowed to “safeguard the independence, national sovereignty, territorial integrity” of Afghanistan.

Two blasts were heard as Afghanistan’s two rival leaders held parallel presidential inaugurations in Kabul, underscoring the country’s woeful security ahead of talks with a resurgent Taliban.

Hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the swearing-in ceremonies for Ghani and challenger Abdullah, when the blasts were heard, prompting some to flee.

“I have no bulletproof vest on, only my shirt, I will stay even if I have to sacrifice my head,” Ghani told the remaining crowd, as sirens sounded overhead.

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‘Executive Guarantee’ for Taliban Prisoners Freedom; Ghani Says

reporter 1222 — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 12:56:15 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The proposed release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, required under their peace deal with the US, can happen only if the Afghan government gets a guarantee that they will not “return to violence”, President Ashraf Ghani said.

“The people’s request is that there should be an executive guarantee so that these people will not return to violence once they are released,” the Afghan leader told parliament on Saturday, adding that a “transparent mechanism” has to be established to enact that part of the Taliban-US deal, RT reported.

Under the agreement signed by the US and the Taliban in Qatar last Saturday, as many as 5,000 members of the militant group currently held in Afghan prisons would be released by March 10. This would pave the way to intra-Afghan talks on the future of the country.

Ghani, who is to be inaugurated on Monday for his second term as Afghanistan’s president, said earlier that his government was bound to no commitment to free the prisoners.

During his parliament speech, Ghani asked MPs to provide seven lawmakers to participate in the reconciliation council, a body that would handle the talks with the Taliban on the government side. He wouldn’t promise that any of them would be included in the negotiating team, however.

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Afghan Political Rivals Divided over Release of 5000 Taliban Prisoners

reporter 1222 — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 16:01:05 +0000

Afghan Political Rivals Divided over Release of 5000 Taliban Prisoners

According To Iran News,Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s main political rival supports a Taliban demand for the release of thousands of their prisoners before they will take part in peace talks with the government, his spokesman said Thursday.

A dispute over the prisoner release threatens a US-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, days after the militants and the United States signed an agreement on the withdrawal of US forces.

The adoption by Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani’s main rival in the past two, disputed presidential elections, of a position on the prisoner dispute at odds with that of Ghani’s will increase suspicion between them when they should be focusing on a united front for the proposed talks with the Taliban.

The pact that the United States and the Taliban signed in Doha on Saturday calls for a phased withdrawal of US-led foreign forces in return for a Taliban commitment to prevent militants from using Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States and others.

The accord – to which Ghani’s government was not a party – also provides for the release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for up to 1,000 Afghan government captives, by March 10.

But Ghani has rejected that, saying the release of prisoners should be negotiated.

The Taliban are demanding their prisoners be freed before any peace talks begin and Abdullah agreed with that, his spokesman said, Reuters reported.

“We believe that all the issues on the draft of the agreement are confirmed and agreed, by both sides, after long and careful discussions, so the things on the peace agreement should be implemented without any delay,” said the spokesman, Fraidoon Khwazoon.

“Trust-building is very important to take the peace talks forward and releasing the 5,000 Taliban and 1,000 ANDSF members is a must,” he added, referring to Afghan government forces.

A spokesman for Ghani did not immediately respond to a request for comment but a senior government official reiterated that it was not practical, and nor a prerequisite for the so-called intra-Afghan talks, that the prisoners be released.

“Over the years, we’ve released hundreds of insurgents as a gesture of good faith but it didn’t help with peace,” said the official, who declined to be identified.

“The government has to be sure the release guarantees peace negotiations with the Taliban,” the official said.

Ghani and Abdullah are old rivals who both held roles in the previous government under a US-brokered power-sharing agreement. A former foreign minister, Abdullah held the specially created post of chief executive in the outgoing government.

Their dispute over the outcome of a Sept. 28 presidential election raises the prospect of chaos as the United States prepares to withdraw its forces after more than 18 years of war.

The Election Commission last month announced that Ghani won September’s election but Abdullah has also proclaimed himself winner and is planning a parallel inauguration on March 9.

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has led the negotiations with the Taliban, had asked both sides to delay their inaugurations, Khwazoon said, but the senior government official said there was no plans to delay Ghani’s.

Khwazoon also said Abdullah’s team was speaking to other political groups about a delegation for the talks with the Taliban.

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Ashraf Ghani remains as Afghanistan president

reporter 1222 — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 10:59:19 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Ashraf Ghani has secured a second term as president of Afghanistan, according to the final results of the September 28, 2019 poll released Tuesday by the country’s election commission.

“The election commission… declares Mr. Ashraf Ghani, who has won 50.64 percent of the votes, as the president of Afghanistan,” election commission chief Hawa Alam Nuristani told a press conference in Kabul, AFP reported.

“May God help him in serving the people of Afghanistan… I also pray that peace comes to our country,” she added.

The results had been delayed for nearly five months after allegations of vote-rigging from Ghani’s main rival, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, forced a recount.

The delay left Afghanistan facing a political crisis just as the US seeks a deal with the Taliban which would allow it to withdraw troops in return for various security guarantees and a promise that the militants would hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

If all goes well, then Ghani is likely to be the man sitting across from the Taliban at the negotiating table in a bid to chart Afghanistan’s future.

Earlier this week, Abdullah’s team said they would not accept fraudulent results.

Current Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum, a powerful Uzbek former warlord and Abdullah’s ally, has also threatened to form a parallel government if fraudulent election results are announced.

Abdullah lost to Ghani in 2014 in a divisive election that saw the US intervene to broker an awkward power-sharing deal between the two rivals.

Nearly one million of the initial 2.7 million votes were purged owing to irregularities, meaning the election saw by far the lowest turnout of any Afghan poll.

Ultimately, only 1.8 million votes were counted – a tiny number given Afghanistan’s estimated population of 35 million and 9.6 million registered voters.

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Iran deputy, Ghani talk on mutual ties

reporter 1222 — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 10:30:06 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The deputy of the Iran foreign ministry Mohammad Ebrahim Taherianfard met and held talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani about the development of mutual ties in Kabul on Sunday.

As reported, the two sides conferred on the fight against terrorism, extremism, and narcotics as well as favorite mutual relations.

As agreed, a delegation from Afghanistan will pay a visit to Iran to discuss various issues due to the expansion of relations and ties that have been discussed between Iran deputy and Afghanistan Ghani, in the near future.

In his visit to Kabul, Taherianfard also visited and held talks with Hamid Karzai Former President of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah Chief Executive, and Hamdullah Mohib National Security Adviser of Afghanistan.

On January 28, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed the Islamic Republic’s support to the peace process under the Afghan government until an agreement among Afghan groups is reached.

In a meeting with Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Tadamichi Yamamoto in Tehran on Monday, Zarif stressed the need for protecting votes of the Afghans and declaration of final results with transparency, expressing hope that the new Afghan government would be able to start its work soon.

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Afghan Election Runoff Likely amid Thousands of Complaints

reporter 1222 — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:40:51 +0000

Afghan Election Runoff Likely amid Thousands of Complaints

According To Iran News, Afghanistan’s Electoral Complaints Commission said on Monday the election might go to a second round as it begins reviewing thousands of complaints a day after the preliminary result handed incumbent president Ashraf Ghani a narrow victory.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced on Sunday a much delayed preliminary result of the Sept. 28 presidential vote which was marred by allegations of massive fraud, technical problems with biometric devices used for voting, attacks and irregularities.

IEC said the total turnout was over 1.8 million with Ghani securing 50.64 percent to win the first round of voting, beating his main rival Abdullah Abdullah who currently shares power with him in a unity government.

However, if a review by the complaints commission reduces Ghani’s vote share to below 50 percent and no other candidate has a majority, a second round will be held between the two top contenders.

Deen Mohammad Azimi, deputy head of the Electoral Complaints Commission, said there is a “strong possibility” the election would go to the second round.

“Looking at the scope of complaints and objections that needs a thorough review, there could be a run-off,” Azimi told Reuters.

The review might take around five weeks, Azimi said, adding that thousands of complaints from candidates had already been filed.

According to the tally released by IEC, the total turnout was 1,824,401 with Ghani winning 923,868 votes and Abdullah second with 720,099 (39.52 percent).

“President Ghani avoided a run-off just by over 11,000 votes and the complaints commission might invalidate tens of thousands of votes from all candidates,” another election official said on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media.

Ghani welcomed the IEC decision and said the country was on the right path towards prosperity but Abdullah dismissed the result as fraudulent as he called for a full review.

“There is not doubt that based on clean votes, we are the winner,” Abdullah told a crowd of supporters on Sunday in Kabul.

The situation echoes 2014, when both Ghani and Abdullah alleged massive fraud by the other, forcing the United States to broker an awkward power-sharing arrangement that made Ghani president and Abdullah his chief executive.

Aides close to Ghani, a Western-educated former World Bank official, said the incumbent was not ready for another power-sharing deal with Abdullah, a former medical doctor and three-time contender for the presidency.

Without a unifying leader accepted by all sides, Afghanistan could split further along tribal and ethnic lines which could deepen political instability.

Although Abdullah called for restraint, election result announcements in Afghanistan are typically followed by violent protests from supporters of losing candidates.

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