Campaign

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Hundreds of people during a gathering announced support for Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in the capital of western Badghis province on Monday, an official said.
The presidential elections headed to runoff as no one of presidential candidates obtained 50+1 percent of ballot cast during the April 5, presidential and provincial elections.
Two frontrunners, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdullah Abdullah would contest in the second round of elections scheduled for Jun, 14.

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): Afghanistan would sign the bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the US in the very first week of him becoming president, frontrunner Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai told a Washington audience on Friday.
In a rare address through Skype to the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based eminent think tank, Ghani insisted the BSA was in Afghanistan’s national interest and essential for regional and global peace.
Ahmadzai, who is pitted against Dr Abdullah Abdullah in the runoff presidential election, said Afghanistan was at a critical juncture.

HERAT CITY, TARINKOT, JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Thousands of people have held separate gatherings in western Herat, eastern Nangarhar and central Uruzgan provinces in support of presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, his campaign office said in a statement.
Addressing a large number of people, Ahmadzai, said he would work out a strategy to bolster the nascent economy of the country by reducing trade deficit.
Businessmen, he promised would be offered more facilities and the cultural heritage of Herat City would be protected if he won the ballot.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some political and religious groups, as well as tribal councils, on Thursday announced support the Change and Continuity team, led by presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Thousands of people gathered in Kabul, pledging they would vote for the ex-finance minister in the June 14 runoff election. Ahmadzai faces Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in the straight contest.
Muhammad Ayub Qaim, head the of Turkmen Grand Council, Gul Muhammad Zori, the Zori tribal chief, Aminullah Amin, the National and Islamic Movement head, and others spoke on the occasion.

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Supportive of Zalmai Rassoul in the April 5 vote, the Pashayee tribe in the eastern zone on Tuesday announced to back Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the second round of the presidential polls.
The tribe made the decision at a well-attended meeting in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province. Tribal elder Noor Agha Malikzai said the Pashayees would vote for Ahmadzai on June 14.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Green Trend (AGT), led by Amarullah Saleh, on Tuesday announced support to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in the runoff ballot on June 14.
After comprehensive consultations, the AGT decided to put its weight behind the team led by Abdullah, said Saleh, a former National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Mahmud Karzai, President Hamid Karzai’s brother, and several parliamentarians on Monday announced support to Dr. Abdullah in the June 14 runoff.
Addressing a gathering here, Mahmud Karzai said he had joined Abdullah’s camp for the sake of national unity and political and economic stability of Afghanistan.
He cited unemployment and a weak economy as grave problems, saying that Abdullah’s team had a comprehensive plan to address the problems.

KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential aspirant Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said on Monday he had no meeting or contact with the US President Barak Obama who was on a brief visit to Afghanistan to meet US troops.
Obama landed at Bagram military base late Sunday and met with senior American officials and military commanders.
Abdullah expressed these views at a gathering arranged in his support by Mahmud Karzai, brother of President Hamid Karzai.
However, he said signing of the bilateral security agreement (BSA) would be his priority if he won the ballot.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Nasiri tribal council of southern Ghazni province on Monday announced support to presidential runner Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the runoff polls.
At a gathering attended by hundreds of people in Kabul, the council head, Haji Najibullah Nasiri, said his tribe had decided to back Ahmadzai, who was a man of principle and competence.