Former Afghan national security adviser announces candidacy

E-Paper | March 06, 2026

Former Afghan national security adviser announces candidacy

AP Published January 18, 2019

Mohammad Hanif Atmar, of the Peace and Moderation party, announced his candidacy on Friday in an address to hundreds of supporters at a hotel in Kabul. — AP/File photo

A former national security adviser has registered as a candidate for president of Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to engage in peace negotiations to end the country's 17-year war.

Mohammad Hanif Atmar, of the Peace and Moderation party, announced his candidacy on Friday in an address to hundreds of supporters at a hotel in Kabul.

Afghans go to the polls to elect a new president on July 20.

Current Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says he will register to run for re-election in the coming two days.

The Taliban have been steadfast in their refusal to enter peace talks with the Afghan government and have also threatened to halt talks with the United States.

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Bill

Jan 18, 2019 05:52pm

If he runs Afghanistan like he ran security Afghanistan is doomed.

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aman

Jan 18, 2019 07:03pm

The Guy who worked for USA to kill its own poor citizens ?

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Mr.Afghani

Jan 18, 2019 07:09pm

@Bill , He was a good security adviser. He wasn't that bad.

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Syed H

Jan 18, 2019 09:27pm

@aman, "The Guy who worked for USA to kill its own poor citizens ?" Not only the Americans, but even the Soviets when they were occupying Afghanistan; he was actively fighting against the Mujahideen to keep the Soviets in Afghanistan. He fled the country when the Soviets left and came back when the US invaded. Basically, he is an "equal opportunities" collaborator. Happy to kill his own people for whichever foreign power is in Kabul. But to be fair, it would not be right to single him out on this; after all, there are so many others like him in the current regime in Kabul. And to think this bunch of people condemn the Taliban for being proxies of foreign powers and wonder why any Afghan would have a problem with the Kabul regime.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 19, 2019 09:56pm

Jumping on the bandwagon is the hallmark of opportunist like him.

Recommend 0

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