Challenges facing Afghan president Ashraf Ghani

Finally in place after months of political turmoil, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani faces challenges across his war-torn nation, including corruption, economic stagnation, and a continuing Taliban insurgency

POWER SHARING

Ghani has pledged to work with poll rival AbdullahAbdullah (inset) in unitygovernment, despite bothmen accusing each other of vote rigging and fraud in June 14 runoff. Abdullah given role of chief executive in September 21 deal brokered by U.S. to end bitter dispute

ECONOMY

As former World Bank official and Afghan finance minister, Ghani is well qualified to revive his country’s weak economy but needs to tackle widespread government corruption to implement reforms. Afghanistan urgently needs $537 million bailout from U.S. and other internationaldonors to keep paying its bills
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AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
IRAN
Kandahar
Herat
Main insurgent threat
Kabul
300 km
200 miles
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Ashraf Ghani (above) Inaugurated on Sep 29 in country’s first democratic transfer of power since 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Taliban

SECURITY

Afghan security forces, numbering around 350,000 personnel, will takeon task of battling Taliban and other insurgent groups when international combat troops withdraw at end of 2014. U.S. officials expect Ghani tosign agreement allowing about 10,000 American troops to stay in Afghanistan after December 31 

TALKING TO THE TALIBAN
Ghani committed to working for long-term peace, calling on Taliban andother militants to lay down theirweapons and join political process.Previous attempts at dialogue havestalled despite Taliban prisonerreleases. Insurgents have denouncedApril 5 presidential vote as fake andreportedly branded both Ghani andAbdullah as “American puppets”

Source: Wire agencies
Pictures: Associated Press