﻿ Karzai shuns Afghan TV debate | News | Al Jazeera

Karzai shuns Afghan TV debate

First major televised Afghan presidential debate held, but without the president.

    Abdullah and Ghani debated with an empty podium where Karzai would have stood


    'Broken promise'

    Ghani, also a former senior World Bank official, has repeatedly asked Karzai to debate with him.


    Jahid Mohseni, the chief executive of Moby Group, which owns the Persian-language Tolo TV, said the station hoped to hold a series of three debates and that Karzai was welcome to join the remaining two.

    Mohseni said negotiations over Thursday's debate began more than three weeks beforehand.

    He said: "Afghanistan's obviously a new democracy and we've got a lot of limitations in terms of communication and road structure.

    "We saw a TV debate as useful because it crosses barriers in terms of literacy and candidates can talk to voters in their own homes."

    'Show of weakness'

    Before the debate, Haroun Mir, the deputy director of the Afghan Centre for Research and Policy Studies, said Karzai knew very well that if he took part in the debate, he would "face criticism from the two other candidates".


    Ajmal Habidy, Ghani's aide, said: "If President Karzai is not participating in the debates, it shows his weakness."


    SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies


    'Money can't buy us': Mapping Canada's oil pipeline battle

    'Money can't buy us': Mapping Canada's oil pipeline battle


    Women under ISIL: The wives

    Women under ISIL: The wives


    Diplomats for sale: How an ambassadorship was bought and lost

    Diplomats for sale: How an ambassadorship was bought and lost
