Afghan tensions ease as Ghani, Abdullah postpone swearing-in ceremonies.

Islamabad: US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who was involved in efforts to reduce political tensions in Kabul ahead of signing a landmark peace deal with the Taliban, said on Wednesday that President Asharf Ghani has postponed his oath-taking ceremony amid calls by his political rivals for an inclusive government.

Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who claimed victory in the September presidential elections, had announced to form a parallel government but also dropped the plan of his inauguration in response to Ghani's decision.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has announced the postponement of tomorrow's (Thursday) planned presidential inauguration ceremony. I welcome President Ghani's decision to postpone the event until March 9," Khalilzad wrote on twitter.

"This will allow time for necessary consultations so that the best interests of Afghanistan and its people are reflected and preserved by the new government. As the electoral process has concluded, President Ghani, as the declared winner, and other leaders should ensure that the new government is inclusive and reflects the aspirations of all Afghans," said the US envoy, who secured a deal for the Trump administration.

The Taliban and the US are scheduled to ink the agreement in the presence of representatives from over 20 countries and UN, OIC and EU officials.

Daily Times has learnt that the Taliban have invited over 25 of their leaders to the ceremony to be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the Taliban have political headquarters.

Although Abdullah has postponed his presidential inauguration, his spokesman told the media in Kabul that there is no change in their stance of not recognizing Ghani as the president.

The Ghani administration had invited foreign delegates, including political leaders from Pakistan, and other countries and the Hamid Karzai's international airport was decorated with Afghanistan's national flags to welcome foreign guests.

The presidential palace played down postponement of the swearing-in ceremony and said the ceremony was postponed due to the "spread of coronavirus" and that more time was needed for preparations for the welcoming of the foreign guests.

Dawa Khan Meenapal, a presidential...