Add new comment

KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai has entered a keenly-awaited debate with his challengers Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Ramzan Bashardost on their programmes and priorities for the nation.

Aired live by the state-controlled electronic media and Radio Liberty, the debate got under way at 5.30pm. Radio Liberty chief Akbar Ayazi is hosting the discussion that came after a lot of waiting.

Ayazi said the debate was focused on topics such as national security, domestic and regional issues. Karzai was invited to debate by his close rivals Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani soon after the election campaign began on June 16.

In response to the challenge, the incumbent president and his campaign managers said he was ready to sit with candidates who knew the principles of debate. Karzai wanted all media outlets to be part of the discussion.

Although Dr. Ghani and Abdullah participated in a debate on Tolo TV last month, President Karzai decided to stay away from the programme.

mud