By Aroussa Hafeez

The legitimacy and transparency of governance in Afghanistan is essential to stability in war torn country however, its fractured-political environment makes the system debilitated. Earlier, nationwide Presidential elections of 2019 declared the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani won with 50.6 percent of the vote, whereas, Abdullah Abdullah was announced as the runner-up with 39.5 percent of votes. Abdullah immediately challenged the result of elections and both sides claimed the authority to form next government moreover both held parallel inauguration ceremonies. Two men with powerful support bases, claiming the presidency created a challenge of power-sharing and left another election in crisis.
The political crisis in Afghanistan recorded several events since 2019 Presidential elections. Different groups tried to mediate between Ghani and Abdullah to resolve this political dispute. Abdullah stance was to nullify the election results and the post of Prime minister to be created but due to the growing internal and external pressure Abdullah backed down from this position and returned to the proposal offered by Ghani to him. The bottleneck in making a government, ended after the former US secretary of state, John Kerry, stepped in to broker a power-sharing deal, which paved the way for unity government. Abdullah submitted a new proposal which included a number of new institutions undoubtedly; this proposal was just to find a way round the power-sharing cabinet, which was rejected by Ghani before.
Power-sharing agreement “Tawafoq-Nama-Ye-Siasi” (Political Agreement), was signed by Ghani and Abdullah on May 17th, 2020, which gave leadership to Abdullah of the peace process and the right to appoint half the cabinet. The agreement included a Supreme State Council (Shura-ye ‘Ali-ye Dawlat) in Afghanistan, “comprising of political leaders and national personalities” which would be established to “advise the president and leadership of the government on crucial national issues, Afghanistan’s relations with countries of the world, strengthening national unity, realization of social justice and government’s structural reforms.”
The agreement did not specifies the number of council members or who servers on it but government of Afghanistan prepared a draft document which include the names of 18 people as members of the Supreme State Council (14 men and 4 women). These 18 people include President Ashraf Ghani, the head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, former president Hamid Karzai, former jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, former vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili, former foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Fatima Gailani, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, Ata Mohammad Noor, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, Mir Rahman Rahmani, Fazel Hadi Muslimyar, Hasina Safi, Fawzia Koofi, and Habiba Sarabi.
The agreement allows President Ashraf Ghani to form a cabinet and fill other high level positions. Much of the conditions in agreement move around the sharing of government posts and special government protocol, along with that a number of new state institutions will be established. However, both the rival group of election 2019 were successful in getting a part of the pie. The political agreement signed last year between both the groups, established to ensure political consensus in the country has not been completed. The debates over structure and role of Supreme State Council still continue. This document has been criticized for not consulting many leaders among the list. However, the Presidential Palace said that the document is not final so far.
The 18 member list does not include any name of ordinary Afghans leaders who have been waiting from long for an inclusive government. There is a situation prevailing in the country in which political parties are losing support from ordinary Afghan citizens. However, today in Afghanistan a conducive environment with down to up approach is required so that the local people can get a sense of ownership and responsibility in their own country. They don’t want any foreign interventions and support to some specific political candidates. Albeit, his cannot be denied that at present the reconciliation and reconstruction of political environment is not possible with just a group of persons who are busy in getting a slice of pie because the country has long been plagued by war and all these are just seasoned politicians who have been tested.
The unrealistic goals of Afghan government will not let Afghanistan move towards stability and security unless Afghan citizens are given equal right to participate. There is need for bottom-led approach owned by Afghans to accompany other senior politicians for better Afghanistan. Of these 18 names in the draft document of power-sharing agreement have been old tested and failed. At present, in Afghanistan there is a necessity of government that ought to be led by Afghan nationals because the failed strategies of same old seasoned politicians have just dominated the system of state. The elite-oriented distribution of power among parties has become a trend in Afghanistan and now this power-sharing arrangement will also be unable to deliver sustainable peace.