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In Afghanistan, U.N. fears for the safety of its staff amid growing threats of violence In Afghanistan, U.N. fears for the safety of its staff amid growing threats of violence
(35 minutes later)
KABUL — The United Nations is debating whether to withdraw its staff from one of Afghanistan’s largest and safest cities as concerns grow that a deadlock between the country’s two presidential candidates could lead to unrest.KABUL — The United Nations is debating whether to withdraw its staff from one of Afghanistan’s largest and safest cities as concerns grow that a deadlock between the country’s two presidential candidates could lead to unrest.
In a series of stern statements Saturday, the United Nations’ mission in Afghanistan said it’s facing increasing threats as it oversees a recount of Afghanistan’s contested presidential runoff. The process has been marred by disputes between Ashraf Ghani, who is expected to prevail in the runoff, and Abdullah Abdullah, the likely second-place finisher, over plans for a U.S.-backed coalition government. In a series of stern statements Saturday, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan said it’s facing increasing threats as it oversees a recount of Afghanistan’s contested presidential runoff. The process has been marred by disputes between Ashraf Ghani, who is expected to prevail, and Abdullah Abdullah, the likely second-place finisher, over plans for a U.S.-backed coalition government.
The tension has persisted for weeks, heightening international concerns about the country’s ability to complete its first transition from one democratically-elected government to another. The tension has persisted for weeks, heightening international concerns about the country’s ability to complete its first transition from one democratically elected government to another.
Earlier this month, Abdullah withdrew his support for the recount, alleging it had failed to uncover hundreds of thousands of fraudulent ballots. And on Friday afternoon, dozens of Abdullah supporters protested in Kabul with derogatory signs directed at Jan Kubis, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.Earlier this month, Abdullah withdrew his support for the recount, alleging it had failed to uncover hundreds of thousands of fraudulent ballots. And on Friday afternoon, dozens of Abdullah supporters protested in Kabul with derogatory signs directed at Jan Kubis, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
“Intimidation and verbal attacks directed at #UN are not acceptable,” the mission posted on Twitter on Saturday. “Threats against #UN = threats against entire international community. If such abuse continues, #UN will be forced to severely limit its activities, reducing its assistance to #Afghanistan and its people.”“Intimidation and verbal attacks directed at #UN are not acceptable,” the mission posted on Twitter on Saturday. “Threats against #UN = threats against entire international community. If such abuse continues, #UN will be forced to severely limit its activities, reducing its assistance to #Afghanistan and its people.”
One immediate ramification could be the withdrawal of U.N. personnel from Mazar-e-Sharif, the largest city northern Afghanistan, officials said.. One immediate ramification could be the withdrawal of U.N. personnel from Mazar-e-Sharif, the largest city northern Afghanistan, officials said.
In recent year years, Mazar-e-Sharif had been a rare success story in country that continues to struggle against a Taliban insurgency and chronic poverty. In recent year years, Mazar-e-Sharif had been a rare success story in a country that continues to struggle against a Taliban insurgency and chronic poverty.
The city has been relatively free of violence, and the border town is one of the country’s chief economic engines. But Mazar-e-Sharif could become a major flash point between Abdullah and Ghani supporters should election-related disturbances erupt. The city has been relatively free of violence, and the border town is one of the country’s chief economic engines. But Mazar-e-Sharif could become a major flashpoint between Abdullah and Ghani supporters should election-related disturbances erupt.
It’s home to tens of thousands of ethnic Tajiks, an ethnic group that heavily favored Abdullah in the election. Attah Mohammed Noor, the powerful governor of Balkh Province which includes Mazar-e-Sharif, has repeatedly vowed he would lead “a big civil uprising” should Abdullah be denied the presidency because of perceived fraud. It’s home to tens of thousands of ethnic Tajiks, an ethnic group that heavily favored Abdullah in the election. Attah Mohammed Noor, the powerful governor of Balkh Province, which includes Mazar-e-Sharif, has repeatedly vowed he would lead “a big civil uprising” should Abdullah be denied the presidency because of perceived fraud.
The U.N. stressed “consultations are ongoing” so no final decision have been made about its future presence in northern Afghanistan. Yet, the fact a U.N. pullout is even up discussion reflects the unease within the organization after Friday’s protest. The U.N. stressed “consultations are ongoing” so no final decisions have been made about its future presence in northern Afghanistan. Yet the fact that a U.N. pullout is even up for discussion reflects the unease within the organization after Friday’s protest.
Fazul Rhaman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman, denied the campaign organized the protest and condemned any effort to intimidate the United Nations.Fazul Rhaman Oria, an Abdullah spokesman, denied the campaign organized the protest and condemned any effort to intimidate the United Nations.
“Maybe the Ghani team or Afghan government organized yesterday’s protest to defame us,” Oria said. “Or maybe it was just independent people.”“Maybe the Ghani team or Afghan government organized yesterday’s protest to defame us,” Oria said. “Or maybe it was just independent people.”
There have been concerns about election-related violence since this summer, when Secretary of State John F. Kerry rushed to Kabul to broker an agreement between Abdullah and Ghani.There have been concerns about election-related violence since this summer, when Secretary of State John F. Kerry rushed to Kabul to broker an agreement between Abdullah and Ghani.
When the U.N.-supervised recount was completed, the agreement called for the first-place finisher to become president while the second-place finisher would fill a newly created chief executive position.When the U.N.-supervised recount was completed, the agreement called for the first-place finisher to become president while the second-place finisher would fill a newly created chief executive position.
In recent weeks, however,Ghani and Abdullah have been unable to agree on what powers each would yield in the new government. In recent weeks, however, Ghani and Abdullah have been unable to agree on what powers each would yield in the new government.
In response, outgoing President Hamid Karzai and U.S. officials have been stepping up the pressure on both candidates to quickly resolve their differences. Karzai met with both candidates on Saturday morning, but there was no major break-through in the talks, said Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of Abdullah’s running mates. In response, outgoing President Hamid Karzai and U.S. officials have been stepping up the pressure on both candidates to quickly resolve their differences. Karzai met with both candidates on Saturday morning, but there was no major breakthrough in the talks, said Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of Abdullah’s running mates.
Abdullah believes the new chief executive should chair cabinet meetings. Ghani argues country’s constitution gives the president the power to oversee the cabinet. Abdullah thinks the new chief executive should chair Cabinet meetings. Ghani argues that the country’s constitution gives the president the power to oversee the Cabinet.
If the two sides fail to come an agreement in the coming days, Mohaqiq said the Abdullah campaign will try its “level best to control and manage the people if the election result does not go their way.” If the two sides fail to come to an agreement in the coming days, Mohaqiq said, the Abdullah campaign will try its “level best to control and manage the people if the election result does not go their way.”
“But it’s really difficult to stop the people, and their sentiments and attitudes toward the leadership in this entire process,” Mohaqiq said, adding he doubts that Ghani could command universal loyalty from the police and military should he try to assume power without including Abdullah as an equal partner. “But it’s really difficult to stop the people and their sentiments and attitudes toward the leadership in this entire process,” Mohaqiq said, adding he doubts that Ghani could command universal loyalty from the police and military should he try to assume power without including Abdullah as an equal partner.
Sharif Hassan contributed to this report.Sharif Hassan contributed to this report.