File photo: Ashraf Ghani. (Agence France-Presse)
Kabul:
The United States has welcomed a power-sharing deal that saw former finance minister Ashraf Ghani declared as Afghanistan's next president, and said it hopes to sign a crucial security agreement within a week.
Mr Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah struck the deal on Sunday, ending a three-month standoff over disputed elections that had paralysed the country at a key moment, with US-led foreign troops winding down their 13-year war against the Taliban.
The "unity government" paves the way for a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) governing the presence of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, which outgoing president Hamid Karzai had refused to sign.
Under the deal, Abdullah will become "chief executive officer" (CEO), a role similar to prime minister, setting up a tricky balance of power.
US Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Afghanistan for what he called a "moment of extraordinary statesmanship" in which personal interests had been put aside for the sake of the country.
The "unity government offers a huge opportunity for progress in Afghanistan, for the signing of the BSA in a week or so", he said.
Allegations of massive fraud in the June 14 presidential runoff vote sparked a political crisis as both candidates claimed victory.
When the unity deal was finally signed after prolonged and difficult negotiations, Mr Ghani embraced Mr Abdullah briefly at a low-key ceremony in the presidential palace that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Neither candidate spoke at the ceremony, and it remained uncertain when they would address the nation or when the power-sharing agreement would be officially published.
Mr Kerry said he expected the presidential inauguration to be held next week, while a spokesman for Mr Abdullah said September 29 had been pencilled in.
Mr Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah struck the deal on Sunday, ending a three-month standoff over disputed elections that had paralysed the country at a key moment, with US-led foreign troops winding down their 13-year war against the Taliban.
The "unity government" paves the way for a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) governing the presence of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, which outgoing president Hamid Karzai had refused to sign.
Under the deal, Abdullah will become "chief executive officer" (CEO), a role similar to prime minister, setting up a tricky balance of power.
US Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Afghanistan for what he called a "moment of extraordinary statesmanship" in which personal interests had been put aside for the sake of the country.
The "unity government offers a huge opportunity for progress in Afghanistan, for the signing of the BSA in a week or so", he said.
Allegations of massive fraud in the June 14 presidential runoff vote sparked a political crisis as both candidates claimed victory.
When the unity deal was finally signed after prolonged and difficult negotiations, Mr Ghani embraced Mr Abdullah briefly at a low-key ceremony in the presidential palace that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Neither candidate spoke at the ceremony, and it remained uncertain when they would address the nation or when the power-sharing agreement would be officially published.
Mr Kerry said he expected the presidential inauguration to be held next week, while a spokesman for Mr Abdullah said September 29 had been pencilled in.
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