Afghanistan’s Power Sharing Deal

What to study?
For Prelims: Overview and particulars of the deal.
For Mains: Significance of the deal and challenges ahead.
Context: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah
have signed a power-sharing deal, ending months of political uncertainty.
Overview of the deal:

1. Mr Ghani will stay on as president.

2. Dr Abdullah will lead peace talks with the Taliban, should they get under
way.
3. The deal calls for Abdullah to lead the country’s National Reconciliation
High Council and some members of Abdullah’s team would be included in
Ghani’s Cabinet.
4. The Reconciliation Council has been given the authority to handle and
approve all affairs related to Afghanistan’s peace process. 

What’s the issue?

Mr Ghani and Dr Abdullah – who both claimed victory in last September’s election
– last month held rival inauguration ceremonies.
The Afghan electoral commission says incumbent Ashraf Ghani narrowly won the
vote, but Mr Abdullah has alleged the result is fraudulent.
Significance of the deal:
The deal comes as Afghan authorities are hoping to enter peace talks with the
Taliban to end years of violence.
It is hoped the deal in the capital Kabul will help to maintain the balance of power
that existed before last year’s disputed presidential election.
U.S.- Taliban peace deal:
A peace deal between the U.S. Government and the Taliban was signed on 29
February, 2020.
The deal calls for U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops
to leave Afghanistan.
The deal is seen as Afghanistan’s best chance to come at peace in decades of
war. Since then, the U.S. has been trying to get the Taliban and the Afghan
government to begin intra-Afghan negotiations, but the political turmoil and
personal hostility between Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdullah has impeded talks.
Significance of Peace in Afghanistan for India:
India has welcomed the deal. It has called for renewed efforts for establishing
enduring peace and stability, and putting an end to externally-sponsored terrorism
and violence in Afghanistan.
Economically, it is a gateway to the oil and mineral-rich Central Asian republics.
Afghanistan has also become the second-largest recipient of Indian foreign aid
over the last five years.
Sources:  the Hindu.