Pakistan welcomes Afghanistan's unity deal

Foreign Office Spokesperson reaffirms support for Afghan's efforts to build a peaceful, stable and unified...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan welcomed on Sunday the ‘unity government’ deal signed by rival Afghan presidential candidates Ahsraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.

“The government and the people of Pakistan have welcomed the agreement signed by the two Presidential candidates in Afghanistan regarding the establishment of a government of national unity,” said a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Emphasing Pakistan’s consistent support for a peaceful democratic transition, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said, “Pakistan regards the signing of this agreement as a positive development.”

“This outcome has been possible due to the wise and sagacious leadership of Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah,’ she added.

“We congratulate the two leaders and the brotherly people of Afghanistan and reaffirm Pakistan’s support for all their efforts to build a peaceful, stable and unified Afghanistan,” the statement further read.

Earlier today, the two rivals signed a power-sharing deal to end months of controversy over election results. Under the deal, a national unity government will be formed in the country.

Ghani will take over as President of Afghanistan while Abdullah will nominate ‘chief executive’, thereby ending a prolonged stand-off over disputed election results at a pivotal moment in the war-weary nation’s history.

President Hamid Karzai who was present on the occasion hoped that the deal would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.