Campaign

KABUL (Pajhwok): The National Commitment to Salvage Afghanistan (NCSA), an alliance of several political parties, on Monday announced its support for Hidayat Amin Arsala in the April presidential vote.
At a meeting, attended by disqualified presidential candidates, declared Hidayat Amin Arsala a suitable and qualified contender for the presidency.
Salman Ali Dostzada, a member of the alliance, said: “We have same goals and views regarding the situation in the country. And that’s why we have decided to back Arsala.”

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pledging to improve security in four months, presidential candidate Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf on Thursday said he would launch a crackdown on corrupt officials and drug traders, if voted to power in the April elections.
Sayyaf, a former jihadi commander, was addressing thousands of people in Kabul as part of his election campaigning that began five days ago. “Corruption is a disease that can become cancerous, if not cured,” he said.

KABUL (Pajhwok): A group of lawmakers on Friday met presidential candidate Dr. Zalmai Rassoul and assured him of their support in the April 5 ballot.
Former Bamyan governor Habiba Sarabi, Rassoul’s choice for vice-president, was also present during the meeting at Wolesi Jirga Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yasini’s residence.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Nahzat-i-Islami Afghanistan (NIA), underlining the imperative of national harmony and reforms, on Thursday voiced its support to a presidential runner Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
NIA leader Maulvi Mohammad Mukhtar Mofleh told a gathering in Kabul: “We support Abdullah because his team has a national character and will never brook corruption.”
He asked the ex-foreign minister to pave the ground for other political institutes and civil society groups taking active part in government affairs if he won the April 5 elections.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Zalmai Rassoul on Monday said he would form a broad-based government and handle the issue of security with an iron fist if he won the April election.
Hitting the campaign trail, Rassoul told supporters that integrity, good governance and even-handed development were vital to Afghanistan’s stability. “Our way is not extremism; we believe in equality.”
The former foreign minister praised the performance of President Hamid Karzai, acknowledging he had played a vital role in uniting the Afghans -- a precedent he would also follow.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential hopeful Qutbuddin Hilal on Monday listed efforts for promoting peace and education as well as effective drive against administrative corruption as his top priorities.
Launching his election campaign, Hilal told a gathering in Kabul that elections were the best way to bring about a political change. But the polls must be transparent and inclusive, he stressed.
If he won the vote, the contender said he would work sincerely to strengthen security, promote education and forge cooperative relations with neighbours and the world at large.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Hedayat Amin Arsala on Sunday said reviving peace negotiations with the Taliban to end the ongoing conflict would be among his primary goals if he won the April 5 vote.
Addressing hundreds of his supporters in Kabul, the economist said the Afghans demanded peace and stability in their country and did not want to hear gunfire anymore.
“If I win, I will negotiate with the Taliban and focus all my efforts with honesty in this regard. But we have to be more focused on protecting the past achievements,” he said.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Leading presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani on Sunday identified economic, judicial and constitutional reforms, reigning in the bureaucracy and even-handed development of the country as his top priorities.
While hitting the campaign trail in Kabul, the ex-World Bank expert said the Afghans were ready for change from within. He emphasised on enhancing Afghanistan’s domestic production.

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai’s election campaign office swung into amid security concerns in central Bamyan province on Sunday.
Ramazan Fida, the interim head of Ghani’s team, asked the government to maintain security of provincial election offices -- hours after two aides of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah were shot dead in Herat province.