In separate meetings with the presidential candidates, Jeff Feltman, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), was said to have urged the two men to restart politician negotiations as soon as possible.
The top UN official met with the candidates days after discussions between the camps reached an impasse over the issue of the authorities to be granted to the Chief Executive position, a key part of their national unity government deal brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in early August. With over five months passed since the election began, the deadlock on negotiations has steered the it toward crisis.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s team confirmed he had met with Mr. Feltman, and that the international community hopes to get Abdullah and Ghani face-to-face again to try and rekindle their dialogue. “The Deputy Secretary of the United Nations met with Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and in the meeting, he emphasized ending the tensions in an electoral framework, and also the Deputy of Mr. Ban Ki Moon stressed that the two candidates honor the commitments they agreed upon,” Tahir Zuhari, spokesman to Ghani camp said on Thursday.
Presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah, meanwhile, has acknowledged the international community’s efforts, but maintained that the two electoral camps were not in direct communication at the moment. “We have no relations with the rival team, but some credible international institutions have started efforts and are considering our views and views are exchanged between the candidates through them,”Abdullah spokesman Syed Aqa Fazel Sancharaki said.
The return to silence between the candidates comes after a month of negotiations that included direct talks between the two men. Many had hoped the deal brokered by Secretary Kerry would bring a smooth end to the election process, but recent weeks have stolen those hopes away.
At this point, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has warned that it will announce the results of the runoff next week regardless of whether or not the candidates have come to agreement. Uncertainty surrounding the election has caused an economic downturn and emboldened militant groups around the country.
Afghan leaders and activists have vocally urged the candidates and their teams to put their differences aside for the sake of the country.
“They {candidates} must form the national unity government and make the cabinet with the participation of both sides,” former Afghan President Sibghatullah Mojaddedi told TOLOnews. "I don’t think that the losing team shouldn’t have a share, they must form a national unity government.”
The Fair and Transparent Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) has also warned of the consequences the country could face if the election stalemate continues. “Afghanistan doesn’t have enough political, economic and security capabilities to be in long term political uncertainty, for the sake of the constitution and stability of the country, the electoral impasse must come to an end soon,” FEFA Chief Nadir Naderi said.
