WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has warned Afghan presidential candidates that he would stop US aid to Afghanistan if they resorted to violence to settle their dispute.

President Obama spoke with the two candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, after it appeared that their dispute could lead to more violence in the war-torn country, the White House announced on Tuesday.

“He noted that there is no justification for resorting to violent or extra-constitutional means, which would result in the end of US assistance to Afghanistan,” said a transcript of the president’s conversation with the two Afghan leaders.

The White House also said that Mr Obama had asked Secretary of State John Kerry to continue his close consultations with the two candidates and with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Related: Extra-legal means in Afghanistan to affects US aid

The United States and its Western allies fear that the dispute between the two candidates could reignite the violence that plagued Afghanistan for more than a decade after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. Mr Ghani enjoys the support of the dominant Pashtuns while other ethnic groups support Mr Abdullah.

The White House said that President Obama’s unprecedented decision to intervene in the internal politics of another country was part of the ongoing US efforts for maintaining calm in Afghanistan. He emphasised the need for political dialogue as last month’s election results are tabulated.

“With both, the president stressed that the United States expects a thorough review of all reasonable allegations of fraud to ensure a credible electoral process,” the White House said.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2014