Afghan presidential candidates

Sixteen candidates will stand against President Ashraf Ghani in the first round of Afghanistan’s presidential election on September 28. Candidates include warlords, former communists, mujahideen and Taliban


President Ashraf Ghani, 70: Front-runner and ethnic Pashtun.
His deeply unpopular government has proved unable to curb violence, raise living standards, or tackle endemic government corruption

Abdullah Abdullah, 58: Chief Executive Officer is among Ghani’s closest rivals. Ethnic Tajik and prominent member of Jamiat-e Islami.
Ally of late Ahmad Shah Massoud – legendary mujahideen leader

Hanif Atmar, 50: Former national security adviser and ethnic Pashtun, Atmar served as officer in notorious KHAD spy agency during Soviet occupation from 1979-89

Ahmad Wali Massoud, 54: Younger brother of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Ethnic Tajik and prominent member of Jamiat-e Islami. Ambassador to United Kingdom, 2001-06

Rahmatullah Nabil, 51: Two-time head of NDS – Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency. Ethnic Pashtun Nabil is outspoken opponent of Taliban and its chief backer, Pakistan

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, 70: Notorious former warlord is head of Hezb-e Islami militant group that signed controversial peace deal with Ghani in 2016


Sources: AAN, Radio Free Europe 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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