PESHAWAR, September 29: Mr Ashraf Ghani has taken oath as the new president and Mr Abdullah Abdullah as chief executive of Afghanistan.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Kabul where the chief justice administer oath to Mr Ashraf Ghani and then to Mr Abdullah Abdullah.
Outgoing Afghan president Mr Hamid Karzai, Pakistani president Mr Mamnoon Hussain, Awami National Party chief Mr Asfandyar Wali, chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mr Mahmood Achakzai and others also attended the ceremony.
The oath-taking took place following three months of political turmoil in Afghanistan.
Previously, Mr Abdullah was leading in the polls. However, Mr Abdullah was not given the presidential office because he had not polled 50 percent votes. According to the Afghan Constitution, it is necessary for a candidate of presidential office to secure at least 50 percent votes. Later, Mr Ashraf Ghani was declared winner in the run-off vote.
After the run-off balloting, Mr Abdullah Abdullah initially refused to accept the results. However, the United Nations and United America convinced both the leaders to patch things up.
Emphasis on peace, economy
President Dr Ashraf Ghani says he will form a government of national unity.
Afghan media quoted him as saying in his address to the oath-taking ceremony that he would make efforts for peace, national unity and economic stability of Afghanistan.
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