26 July 2004	Monday	08 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KABUL, July 25: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday abruptly and unexpectedly postponed a visit to Pakistan a day before the deadline for the nomination of presidential candidates in Afghanistan's upcoming polls in October.

Mr Karzai had been scheduled to fly to Pakistan for a two-day visit on Monday, and the submission of his presidential candidacy nomination was thought to be a formality. The trip "has been postponed because it coincided with the deadline for the presidential candidacy nominations," Mr Karzai's office said in a statement.

Both Mr Karzai and President Pervez Musharraf agreed to reschedule the trip in the near future, the statement added. Nine candidates, including Abdur Rashid Dostam, have publicly announced their intention to stand against Karzai.

Meanwhile, Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali has said that the presidential elections would be held on time in October in Afghanistan. Talking to BBC radio, the Afghan minister said that the Afghan government and world community would jointly maintain law and order during the elections. He said that Afghan President Hamid Karazi planned to continue disarmament campaign. -APP