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Afghan Presidential Debate Promo

Live Blog -- Afghan Presidential Debates

Radio Free Afghanistan and Afghan National Radio and TV are holding two presidential debates on February 15 and 16. Gandhara will provide live updates during the debates.

DAY 1: Akbar Ayazi, RFE/RL's regional director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, moderated the first presidential debate on February 15 (Saturday) between 1600 Afghanistan local time (UTC, 1130) and 1800 (UTC, 1330).

Islamist leader Qutbuddin Hilal, former Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, former lawmaker Daud Sultanzoi and former Governor Gul Agha Sherzai participated in the debate.

DAY 2: Akbar Ayazi, RFE/RL's regional director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is moderated the second presidential debate on February 16 (Sunday) from 1600 Afghanistan local time (UTC, 1130) to 1800 (UTC, 1330).

Former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, former senior presidential adviser Hedayat Amin Arsala and Prince Mohammad Nader Naim, grandson of former President Daud Khan's brother, participated in the second debate.

Abubakar Siddique
12:23 15.2.2014
Sultanzai: We need to recognize the sacrifices of the security forces but we need to give them a greater purpose so they can better serve our nation.
12:22 15.2.2014
Sherzai: I have great respect for the sacrifices of the present military. The Afghan National Army is more capable than the militaries we had in the past.
12:20 15.2.2014

Wardak: We faced a lot of problems in building the military. Most militaries in the world today are volunteer. I can prove that the army is better than at any time in our history.
12:17 15.2.2014
Hilal: In the past our military had high professional standards. The officer corps needs to be better trained. But we need to go back towards conscription in recruiting soldiers.

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