The agreement reached in Afghanistan to appoint Ashraf Ghani as president and his rival Abdullah Abdullah chief executive of the government rounds off the country's prolonged presidential election campaign and opens up a new stage in its politics. Effectively it is a powersharing arrangement between the two men. But the failure to spell out details of the pact or even to publish the actual election results tells a story of secret dealing, voting fraud, external pressure and political brokerage that does not bode well for the future unless accompanied by a common vision and programme for government.
Disillusioned Afghans ask what was the purpose of the expensive and elaborate voting exercise over two rounds in April and June if the result is so unclear. The best they can hope for is that power will be genuinely shared between the two men and their respective parties, tribal affinities and regional interests. These make up potentially three-quarters of Afghanistan’s population, separated geographically between north and south, Tajiks and Pashtuns. As they divide up the spoils of office, appoint ministers, governors and administrators and prepare for parliamentary elections next year they can forge a unity of purpose rather than fall foul of competitive factionalism.
They are due to sign an agreement allowing 10,000 US and coalition forces remain in the country after December. Their sharing power brings an end to the war since the US invasion in 2001 that killed tens of thousands, wounded many more and created million of refugees. They need to decide whether negotiations with the Taliban should be renewed in pursuit of a lasting peace or whether more fighting would gain them advantage in future talks. And the country's weak economy and infrastructure urgently need attention with the help of international aid withheld until this new government emerged. On all these counts Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah have a formidable agenda and deserve the goodwill and support of the outside world if they are willing to tackle it.