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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
11:57 15.2.2014
Ayazi -- Second Question: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that the key to peace in Afghanistan is in the hands of the United States and Pakistan. What do you think about this statement. How do you plan to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan?
11:59 15.2.2014
Sherzai: We are responsible for bringing peace to our country. I will build a council (jirga) of neutral figures including religious scholars, intellectuals and tribal leaders to start a peace process inside Afghanistan and with neighbours.
12:01 15.2.2014
Sultanzoi: We are insulting the intelligence of Afghan people if we give them simplistic explanations for the war in Afghansitan. The distance between the people and the government is a major contributor to instability in our country. We will talk to the Taliban. An effective government can better tackle the problem of insecurity.
12:03 15.2.2014
Hilal: Peace in Afghanistan has domestic, regional and international aspects. The mistakes by international forces such as aggressive house searches and the mistakes of the Afghan government contributed to insecurity. Good governance, negotiations and good intentions for moving the peace process forward are necessary for stability.

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