Jirga fails to forge Qayyum-Rassoul alliance

KABUL has failed to convince two presidential candidates — Abdul Qayyum Karzai and Zalmai Rassoul — into forming alliance by renouncing one’s candidacy in favour of the other.

Jirga members said on Friday a majority of them tried to convince Rassoul into quitting the race, but he refused.

Qayyum Karzai, the elder brother of President Hamid Karzai, said he was thankful to the jirga for being supportive to him, something he said further energised his spirit to continue his run for the presidency.

Qayyum Karzai said if elected to power, he would consult the nation in every matter as part of Afghanistan’s history and tradition.

The 170-member jirga, representing all the country’s 34 provinces, had been holding negotiations over the past 10 days.

Also included government officials, the jirga had been trying to convince one of the two candidates to shun his candidacy in favour of the other.

The jirga was scheduled to announce the outcome of its mission four days ago, but delayed the announcement after President Karzai reportedly wished his brother should quit.

The jirga’s deputy chairman, Mohammad Amin Waqad, told reporters their negotiations had been inconclusive. He said President Karzai had sought an alliance between his brother and Rassoul, but it did not happen.

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