KABUL: Afghanistan’s president-elect promised to end political strife and corruption in a speech on Monday, his first since signing a power-sharing agreement with his rival aimed at bringing months of turmoil to a close.

“Afghanistan’s stability is most important for us,” former finance minister Ashraf Ghani said in his address at the presidential palace. “Let’s build up this nation and put the past behind us.”

Mr Ghani was named president-elect on Sunday after he signed a US-brokered deal to share power with his opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Mr Abdullah had complained of mass vote-rigging in June’s run-off ballot.

Taliban term power-sharing deal a US sham

Under the terms of the unity deal, Mr Ghani will share power with a chief executive proposed by Mr Abdullah.

The two will share control over who leads key institutions such as the army and other executive decisions.

Meanwhile, the Taliban dismissed the agreement for a unity government as a “sham” orchestrated by the United States and vowed to press on with their war against the Afghan government and the US and allied forces backing it.

“Installing Ashraf Ghani and forming a bogus administration will never be acceptable to the Afghans,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement emailed to journalists.

“The Americans must understand that our soil and land belong to us and all decisions and agreements are made by Afghans, not by the US foreign secretary or ambassador,” he said.

“We reject this American process and vow to continue our jihad until we free our nation from occupation and until we pave the way for a pure Islamic government.”

A US official said Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah, both pro-western technocrats with similar political platforms, would be able to come together for the sake of the country despite the bitterness of the last three months.

Mr Ghani is expected to be sworn in as president on Sept 29, according to an official.

The new chief executive is expected to be inaugurated at the same time.

“Our focus will be on merit in every sector of the government and there will be no place for nepotism,” Mr Ghani said. “It will be a government of transparency, accountability and taking responsibility.”

One of his first acts is likely to be to sign a long-delayed security agreement with the US to allow a small force of foreign troops to remain in Afghanistan after this year. He has previously declared support for the pact.

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 (bilateral security agreement) in a week or so,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2014