42pc of ballot boxes shifted to Kabul: Dobbins

KABUL) headquarters in Kabul, the US special envoy said on Tuesday.

James Dobbins, America’s special representative for Afghanistan, told a news conference at the US Embassy in Kabul that the scrutiny of ballots was ongoing.

During his visit to Kabul, the envoy said, he had discussed the electoral process with President Hamid Karzai, Vice-President Yunus Qanuni, presidential candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

He also held talks with IEC Chairman Yusuf Nuristani, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Jan Kubis and ISAF Commander Gen. Joseph Dunford on the recent agreement between the candidates.

Dobbins said about 42 percent of the ballot boxes had been transferred from the provinces to Kabul and two sifts (7am to 12noon and 1pm to 6pm) were scrutinising the votes.

Representatives of Abdullah and Ahmadzai were in talks on evolving a mechanism for a review of votes, he added, expecting the audit process would involve three shifts after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Once the recount was completed, a new president would take office in mid-September, the diplomat believed. Based on the agreement between the runners, a government of national unity would come into being and the chief executive post would be created, he said.

He made clear the US, without support any specific candidate, had intervened at the request of President Karzai and the two runners to resolve the electoral impasse in Afghanistan.

America’s special envoy said the Afghans expected their government institutions to address the current situation and the future set-up would have recognition domestically and internationally.

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