Afghan President Ghani and rival sign power-sharing deal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, ending a bitter months-long feud that plunged the country into political crisis.  Â

The breakthrough, which sees Abdullah heading peace talks with the Taliban, comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus and surging militant violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.  Â

 “Doctor Abdullah will lead the National Reconciliation High Commission and members of his team will be included in the cabinet,” Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for Ghani, wrote on Twitter.  Â
Abdullah’s spokesman, Fraidoon Khawzoon told AFP the agreement ensures Abdullah’s group gets 50 percent of the cabinet and other provincial governors’ posts.  Â

Ghani said it was a “historic day” for Afghanistan and that the agreement was reached without any international mediation. The agreement, a copy of which was seen by AFP, further says that Ghani will make Abdul Rashid Dostum, his former vice president turned ally of Abdullah, a marshal of the armed forces.  Â

Dostum, a notorious former warlord, is accused of ordering the torture and rape of a political rival in 2016.  Â

The agreement names Abdullah to lead future peace talks with the Taliban. Â