Afghan unity govt deal has no fixed deadline: Kerry

KABUL would complete its five-year constitutional term as the political deal he brokered between the two Afghan leaders in September 2014 had no set expiry date.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul Kerry dismissed assumptions the unity government will end in September after its formation about one and a half years ago.

Kerry said no deadline had been fixed. “In no way does the agreement itself have some particular termination,” Kerry said, adding the political agreement was aimed at preserving the Afghan national unity.

He said under the terms of the agreement, a loya jirga was expected to be held within two years to amend the Constitution, but there was no fixed deadline.

The US Secretary of State hoped the parliamentary approval of President Ghani’s nominees for the Afghan interior minister and the attorney general, the efforts the Kabul administration was making including preparations for the upcoming Warsaw and Brussels summits would help enable the Afghans to see change.

Kerry said President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah had proved they joined hands for their people and took the responsibility to defend their people and pursue a robust reform agenda.

He said he had important discussions with President Ghani and Abdullah on how to further strengthen unity among them. Kerry said he was upbeat about the peace process said and the Afghan government had showed its readiness in this regard and the Afghan people should demand from the Taliban to appear for peace talks.

Kerry asked the Afghan rebels to join the peace campaign and let the Afghans live in peace with equal rights and free of injustices. He also said the United States was committed to continuous training and advising the Afghan security and defence forces to effectively fight against terrorism.

He said the Islamic State or Daesh group in Afghanistan was a threat and needed a joint campaign to eliminate it.  He said Afghanistan alone could not make good future for its citizens and needed the international community’s support.

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