KABUL, Afghanistan
By Zabihullah Tamanna
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was sworn in as the new president of Afghanistan on Monday in a ceremony attended by more than 1,400 people including 200 delegates from foreign countries.
This was the first time that power from one elected president transferred to another elected president peacefully in the history of the war-torn country. President Ghani in his first decree created the post of chief executive and also administered an oath-taking ceremony of Abdullah Abdullah as chief executive of the national unity government.
Ghani, in his one hour speech, said he will fight against corruption and ensure good governance to alleviate poverty and to improve the living standards of Afghans.
He called on the Taliban group to join the political process in a bid to put an end to violence in the country.
“We are tired of insurgency and our message is that of peace,” Ghani said, and added that the political issues should be resolved through negotiations. He called on all militants groups, including the Taliban group and Hezb-e-Islami led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to sit in for talks and join the political process.
Ghani also said he will enhance Afghanistan`s relations with regional countries, Muslim states, the United States and also with other donor countries.
The oath taking ceremony was held amid tight security, where in capital Kabul and other cities, police and security forces were deployed in sensitive areas.
Monday also saw several violent incidents including an attack in Kabul, a clash in Paktia, along with suicide attacks in the Kunduz provinces which claimed the lives of a dozen people. A group of suicide bombers and militants launched coordinated attacks on the government compound in Zurmat district of Paktia province on Monday.
According to local government officials, at least 16 people including militants were killed, and over 10 others were injured following the attack.
Ashraf Ghani also thanked former president Hamid Karzai for his services over the past 13 years and said the national unity government would strive to rule out corruption in the country.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement both men are "patriots committed to the success of their country."
"This is a beginning not an ending and with all beginnings the toughest decisions are still ahead," he added.
American soldiers are set to fully withdrawal from the country by the end of the year unless Afghan officials sign a security pact allowing them to remain beyond 2014.
www.aa.com.tr/en
