Afghanistan swore in Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as its second elected president on Monday, embarking on a new era with a national unity government poised to confront a resilient Taliban insurgency by signing an agreement with the United States that would guarantee a continuing American military presence. As Hamid Karzai left the political stage, the new president was locked into an uneasy partnership with his defeated rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who became the country's first chief executive. With a hug for the cameras, both sides appeared determined to reach across factions and avoid a descent into an abyss similar to what has happened in Iraq, where the government's failure to mend lingering sectarian divisions following a full U.S. withdrawal helped give rise to the brutal Islamic State group.
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Afghanistan swore in Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as its second elected president
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He's expected to sign an agreement to keep 9,800 U.S troops in the country
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That number of troops is expected to be cut in half by the end of 2015
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai
Setting aside rivalries: Moments after @placeholder took the presidential oath, he swore in his election challenger, Abdullah Abdullah (centre) as chief executive
Hamid Karzai
@placeholder, the country's only leader since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, frequently criticized the U.S. government and irritated American leaders with his mercurial behavior; Karzai was criticized in turn for his inability or unwillingness to tackle corruption in his own government.
United States
American
U.S.
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Karzai, the country's only leader since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, frequently criticized the @placeholder government and irritated American leaders with his mercurial behavior; Karzai was criticized in turn for his inability or unwillingness to tackle corruption in his own government.
United States
American
U.S.
U.S
Karzai, the country's only leader since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, frequently criticized the U.S. government and irritated @placeholder leaders with his mercurial behavior; Karzai was criticized in turn for his inability or unwillingness to tackle corruption in his own government.
Hamid Karzai
Karzai, the country's only leader since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, frequently criticized the U.S. government and irritated American leaders with his mercurial behavior; @placeholder was criticized in turn for his inability or unwillingness to tackle corruption in his own government.
Taliban
The Afghan army saw its fatality rate skyrocket and the @placeholder make gains.
Taliban
Ghani Ahmadzai has said he would also welcome talks with the @placeholder, who control vast rural sections of southern and eastern Afghanistan.
Hamid Karzai
Abdullah, a former foreign minister, spoke first and thanked @placeholder for his service and the people of the country for casting votes in the millions despite threats by Taliban militants.
United States
American
U.S.
U.S
Karzai, who has cautioned the successor government about its future dealings with the @placeholder, took a bold swipe at the U.S. during his farewell address last week.